Match Preview :

This game was supposed to be played forward to 3pm CET – and then moving it to Sunday – to avoid it being played in subzero temperatures.

The match is a battle between 5th and 6th in Serie A. Inter Milan are currently five points clear but AS Roma will overtake them if they can win and find a winner in the remaining 25 minutes of their postponed game with Catania, which will be played next week.

Both of these sides were the form sides in the last couple of months but have failed to register wins in their last two matches. Ironically both sides were knocked out of the Coppa Italia, a competition they dominated between 2004 and 2010, facing each other in the final five times in six years has now left them with the Serie A to concentrate on.

Since Inter’s run of eight victories in all competitions was ended by Napoli in the Coppa quarter finals just over a week ago, they have lost to minnows Lecce and been held to a remarkable 4-4 draw by Palermo at a San Siro filled with snow.

Similarly Roma had been on a five game winning streak, but have followed defeat to Juventus in the Coppa with a draw at home to Bologna and a somewhat unexplainable defeat going down 4-2 to Cagliari - a side who has trouble scoring goals. Luis Enrique was quoted saying that he was sad "to see 20 excellent minutes then another 20 minutes that are pathetic" after their defeat.

On the other hand, Claudio Ranieri was his usual upbeat self despite dropping crucial points against Palermo, praising his players, the opposition and even the groundstaff after the match.

Meanwhile, this will be Ranieri’s first return to the Olimpico since he left his post as Roma Coach almost exactly a year ago, after a 4-3 loss to Genoa. For the record, he is a lifelong Roma fan and has played for the club in the seventies.

Past meetings have in recent matches gone to Roma as even though Inter have won on three of their last six visits to Roma in all competitions but have lost their last two Serie A outings there.

Team News :

Roma Team News :
Daniele De Rossi and Pablo Osvaldo returned to training midweek, but it is unsure if they are fit to start this match. However, Nicolas Burdisso and Marco Cassetti are still out.

Inter Team News :
Inter’s injured include Diego Forlan, Dejan Stankovic, Marco Faraoni, Wesley Sneijder, Ricky Alvarez and new signing Freddy Guarin.

Possible lineups

A.S Roma : Stekelenburg; Rosi, Kjaer, Heinze, Taddei; Pjanic, Gago, Simplicio; Totti; Lamela, Borini

Inter Milan Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Poli, Nagatomo; Milito, Pazzini

Predictions

Go for A.S Roma to get the win here and give the 1/4 ball AH. If it should end in a draw then be prepared to lose half the stakes.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

A.S Roma 2-1 Inter Milan

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Go for A.S Roma to win here.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take A.S Roma and give the 1/4 ball. In the event of a draw, then be prepared to lose half the stakes.