Inter’s historic chase meets Roma’s decade-long Olimpico hoodoo in Serie A

Roma and reigning champions Inter Milan meet at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday with both sides aiming to preserve perfect starts to the Serie A season.

The teams are level at the top of the table on 12 points from four matches, although Roma lead on goal difference. The fixture is also the highest-scoring in Serie A history, according to Opta, with 540 goals recorded across 186 meetings. Inter Milan have scored 305 of them and Roma 235.

Inter have avoided defeat in 16 of their past 18 Serie A matches against Roma, winning 10 and drawing six. The Nerazzurri have been particularly dominant in the more recent meetings, winning nine of the last 11 league games against the Giallorossi and losing two, while scoring 24 goals.

The visitors have also won each of their past five Serie A away matches against Roma. Across that run, Inter have scored 11 goals and conceded only two, making it the longest sequence of consecutive home defeats Roma have suffered against a single opponent in the history of their Serie A participation.

Roma’s wider home record against Inter is equally difficult. They have not beaten them at the Stadio Olimpico in the league since 2 October 2016. Since then, nine home meetings have produced three draws and six defeats.

Despite that record, Roma arrive in strong form. Opta say they have won their last nine Serie A matches, but the club have reached 10 or more consecutive victories only twice before. They won 11 in a row between May and October 2013, and repeated that achievement between December 2005 and February 2006.

A victory on Saturday would give Roma wins in each of their first five league matches of the season for only the third time. They previously achieved that in the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 campaigns.

Inter are also pursuing a rare landmark. Five wins from their opening five matches would be only the fifth time they have begun a Serie A season in that manner, following the 1966-1967, 2015-2016, 2019-2020 and 2023-2024 seasons.

The contest brings together the two most prolific teams in Serie A this season. Inter have scored 13 goals and Roma 12. They are also the league’s leading sides for shots on target, with Inter registering 32 and Roma 31, while Roma have made the most touches in opponents’ penalty areas with 183, compared with Inter’s 177.