Inter Milan, AS Roma lock horns in battle for top-four place

With Juventus running away with the league title, much of the attention in Italy’s Serie A is turning to the race for a place in the top four and next season’s edition of the UEFA Champions League. And Saturday evening sees arguably the tie of the round take place, when third-placed Inter Milan welcomes AS Roma, sitting in fifth spot, to the San Siro.

Inter Milan vs AS Roma Game Center

Inter could still catch Napoli

While the league title is out of reach for Inter, they still have Napoli, currently sitting in second place, in their sights. Just seven points separate the two teams and a win here for Inter would cut that gap down to four, temporarily at least. Napoli does not play until Monday night when it hosts Atalanta in another potentially crucial clash in the battle for a spot in the top four.

After a wobble, AS Roma looks to be back on track, taking seven points from the last nine available. They currently sit fifth in the table but a win here could move them up into the top four, depending on how other results go over the course of the weekend.

But it is Inter that comes into this match as the clear favorite to collect three hugely valuable points. You can back the home side to win at just -125, while Roma is out at +333 to do the same. A draw is priced in the middle at +260.

Inter to record key victory on home soil

Despite Roma’s revival over the last few weeks on the domestic front, we are fully expecting home advantage to be a decisive factor in this fixture as Inter looks to close the gap on Napoli immediately above them. It is of course never easy trying to predict the exact scoreline in any football match, but a comfortable 2-0 win for Inter comes in at +850 and looks to be worth backing when you take into consideration Inter’s own recent good form as they look to stay ahead of the likes of AC Milan and Roma themselves.

Such a result would then also allow you to back UNDER 2.5 goals in the game, which is priced at +110, as well as a “No” to both teams scoring, which comes in at the exact same odds. However, should you wish to try to push those potential winnings even higher, then you could employ a method known as combo betting, which allows you to select multiple outcomes at higher odds.

For example, a combo bet of an Inter Milan win, coupled with a “No” to both teams scoring, is at the higher price of +240, while a home victory and UNDER 2.5 goals in the game is higher still, at +375. You may also bet on the total number of goals in the game, with UNDER two out at +333, two or three dropping down to +100 and OVER three goals in the match rising slightly to +175.

Could Inter make a fast start?

Given the importance of this match and Inter’s fine recent form, we believe there is a strong chance they will come racing out of the blocks here, searching for an early goal to try to control proceedings, thus allowing them to hit on the counter when Roma tries to strike. It therefore may be an idea to back OVER 0.5 goals in the game at +300, while Inter is at +650 to be ahead by the end of that time period.

If Inter play their cards right, they can dominate proceedings from start to finish, especially with the crowd behind them on their own patch. They are at just +162 to score in both halves, while they come in at +240 to win this match to nil (without AS Roma scoring a goal).