Overview
- Both teams come into the fifth-round match unbeaten and level on points, turning Saturday's meeting at the Stadio Olimpico into an early barometer of title form.
- Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini said he will judge scudetto hopes only after about 20 matches and confirmed the squad is fully available for the game.
- Inter coach Cristian Chivu has enforced a closed, focused build-up and signalled no rotation, but the team will be without Hakan Calhanoglu because of a muscle injury.
- Inter's defence has shown vulnerability this season and goalkeeper Josep Martinez has been publicly questioned after recent errors, though Chivu is expected to keep faith with him for now.
- Elsewhere in Serie A, Gennaro Gattuso's Lazio have started strongly on 10 points while Venezia remain without a point and coach Giovanni Stroppa faces a review of his future.