Gasperini’s Roma motivated to face Serie A ‘benchmark’ Inter

Gian Piero Gasperini is excited to see his Roma side test themselves against Inter, who he views as the "benchmark" in Serie A, as both teams defend perfect records.

Roma and Inter are first and second, respectively, after four straight wins in the Italian top flight, with the Giallorossi ahead on goal difference.

Saturday's clash at the Stadio Olimpico will be the first instance of Serie A's top two facing one another while boasting 100% records at least four matchdays into a season since October 2014, when Juventus beat Roma 3-2.

Roma are aiming to start a Serie A season with five straight wins for just the third time in their history, after 2013-14 and 2014-15, while Inter could do so for a fifth time, after 1966-67, 2015-16, 2019-20 and 2023-24.

While Nerazzurri boss Cristian Chivu did not give a pre-match press conference on Friday, Gasperini used his to pinpoint Inter as the true test of his side's level.

"I believe Inter are the benchmark team in the league," Gasperini told reporters. "They are a team that, over time, have been doing extraordinary things – and not just in Italy.

"I think they have something more than everyone else. The results speak for themselves, and they are remarkable.

"You have to be comfortable enough to acknowledge that. We should focus on ourselves, not on others.

"I'm satisfied with what we're doing, and we're trying to establish ourselves in an increasingly higher tier of the league. 

"They've been at the top for years; Napoli have managed to break into that group in some seasons. Games like this take care of the mental preparation themselves. You need clarity."

The only two sides with perfect starts meet this weekend. #RomaInter pic.twitter.com/7LHv91DHLF

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) September 17, 2026

Roma have the second-best attack in Serie A this season with 12 goals in four games, while they have only conceded once – giving them the division's best defence.

Asked which of those records he would prefer to maintain, Gasperini said: "Both.

"The teams that are at the top of the table are the ones with the best attack and the best defence; otherwise, you're not there."

And while Inter will be without midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and centre-back John Stones due to injury, Gasperini has a fully fit squad to choose from ahead of Friday's training session.

"It's a constant crossing of fingers, but everyone is available for tomorrow. It's extraordinary because it rarely happens," Gasperini said. 

"Then clearly, someone is better off, and someone is worse off; there have also been some flu, some knocks, some slight sprains. Today is the final training session, but we will all be there."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Roma – Donyell Malen

Since his Serie A debut in January, Malen has scored 20 goals in 22 appearances, twice as many as any other player in the competition in that period (Tasos Douvikas has 10).

Across Europe's big five leagues, he has scored at least three more than any other player, with Harry Kane having 17 Bundesliga goals going into this weekend's fixtures.

Six goals in four games.

The last Roma player to do it? Francesco Totti, all the way back in 2001/02.

Donyell Malen is writing his own story  pic.twitter.com/B3y2LvE0UY

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) September 17, 2026

Inter – Marcus Thuram 

Thuram has been involved in 12 goals in his last nine Serie A appearances (eight goals, four assists).

The Frenchman has also been involved in five goals in four Serie A games against Roma (three goals, two assists), only managing more versus Torino (seven).

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW 

Saturday's game in the capital should be a cracker, as Inter and Roma are the top two teams in Serie A this season for goals (Inter 13, Roma 12), shots on target (Inter 32, Roma 31) and touches in the opposition box (Roma 183, Inter 177).

Historically, this fixture has seen more goals than any other in Serie A, with 540 being scored in 186 matches between Roma and Inter (305 for the Nerazzurri and 235 for the Giallorossi – an average of 2.9 goals per game).

Inter's figure makes them the only team to have scored 300 or more goals against a single opponent in the history of the Italian top flight.

The Nerazzurri have avoided defeat in 16 of their last 18 Serie A matches against Roma (W10 D6), winning nine of the last 11 league meetings between the teams (L2) while scoring 24 goals in the process. 

With the hosts on a nine-match winning streak in league play, though, they should provide a sterner test to the Scudetto holders than they have done in recent years. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Roma – 35.9%

Inter – 38.1%

Draw – 26%

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