Roma vs. Inter: clash at the top

The headline fixture of Matchday 7 sees Giampiero Gasperini’s Roma host one of their main title rivals, in a true early test of their credentials. Inter have recovered from defeats to Udinese and Juventus, and now chase a sixth straight win in league and Europe to pull level at the top.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The official meetings between the two teams at Roma's home total 102 –excluding the single- match Coppa Italia finals of the 2007/08 edition (2-1 Giallorossi victory) and 2009/10 (1-0 Nerazzurri success) – with a score of 40 Roma wins, 28 draws, and 34 Inter victories. Roma haven't beaten Inter at the Olimpico since October 2, 2016, a 2-1 win in Serie A. Since then, 8 encounters in the capital with 5 Nerazzurri victories and 3 draws. In the last 11 matches in Rome, the Nerazzurri have always scored: 23 goals from the Milan based side. Last shutout was in the 0-0 Serie A draw on March 1, 2014.

DID YOU KNOW?

Roma-Inter has been a cup final, both domestic and international, on 10 occasions, all concentrated in the last 35 years. In these 10 finals, some two-legged, others single matches, the player who scored the most goals (4) was Hernan Crespo; with 3 goals each were the Giallorossi De Rossi, Mancini, and Perrotta, and the Nerazzurro Julio Cruz. Roma first in the table after 6 matchdays: this hasn't happened since the 2013/14 season, when they led Serie A with a perfect score. At the Olimpico, the most solid defense in Serie A 2025/26 faces off –Roma with 2 goals conceded– against the best attack – Inter with 17 goals scored.

COACHES and PLAYERS

Gasperini, a former Inter manager facing his old club today: he coached Inter from July to September 2011, overseeing five official matches with a record of one draw and four defeats (including the Super Cup lost in August in Beijing, 1 to 2 in the derby against AC Milan). Nicolò Barella is the player, among those at Italian clubs, with the most official appearances in the 2025 calendar year: 44, and he also leads for minutes played (3,300). The top four places in this ranking are all occupied by Inter players: he is followed by Bastoni with 42 matches, Carlos Augusto with 41, and Dimarco with 39.

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: none Cautioned: none

REFEREE

MASSA (MELI – CECCONI) IV: FELICIANI, VAR: MERAVIGLIA, AVAR: ABISSO

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Sassuolo-Roma (Sunday 26 October, 15.00 CET) Napoli-Inter (Saturday 25 October, 18.00 CEST) (Photo Getty Images)