Roma vs Inter Preview
Inter have won each of their last four games to recover from a dire run in Serie A and secure a spot in the Champions League semi-finals; meanwhile, their hosts have taken one point from the last nine available to slip behind in pursuit of a place inside Italy's top four.
For the first time in 2023, Roma have failed to win for three straight league games, and following Wednesday's draw at mid-table Monza they are in serious danger of missing out on a long-awaited Champions League return.
Jose Mourinho's men had already dropped points in their previous two matches - a 3-1 loss to Atalanta followed by a 1-1 home draw with AC Milan last weekend - but when they failed to protect a lead earned by Stephan El Shaarawy's opening goal, several sides around them in the standings duly capitalised.
The Lombardy trio of Milan, Atalanta and Inter all sit above or alongside Roma with five games to play, so they will be doubly keen to conquer the latter at Stadio Olimpico this weekend.
Mourinho tackles his former club with half an eye on his current team's Europa League semi-final tie against Bayer Leverkusen - with the first leg to be played at the Olimpico next Thursday - but will be acutely aware that the situation in Serie A is fast becoming make or break.
Since Inter won 3-0 when the teams last met in Rome, a win apiece has been traded between the two Calcio giants, with Roma coming out on top in October's reverse fixture at San Siro.
While they have lost six of their last 10 away games in all competitions, the capital club pose a far more formidable prospect in the Eternal City, so will now aim to complete the double over their Milanese visitors and leapfrog them in the table.