Cristian Chivu has steered Inter to five consecutive victories in all competitions, but their trip to the capital presents a formidable challenge against a resilient Roma side who share top spot in Serie A with reigning champions Napoli.

Roma have been rock-solid defensively, conceding just two goals in their opening six league matches to sit level with Napoli on 15 points. Inter trail the pair by three, sitting fourth after successive wins over Sassuolo, Cagliari and Cremonese — ahead of Juventus on goal difference. The Bianconeri, meanwhile, visit high-flying Como on Sunday.

Chivu will be without forward Marcus Thuram, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained against Slavia Prague last month. Fortunately, Ange-Yoan Bonny has proven a capable deputy; the French striker played a key role in Inter’s victory over Cremonese before the international break.

Captain Lautaro Martínez arrives in fine form, having scored twice for Argentina against Puerto Rico to take his combined tally for club and country this season to eight. Thuram hopes to return in time for next weekend’s pivotal clash with Napoli — a fixture that could define Inter’s title credentials.

Few expected Chivu to be in this position when he replaced Simone Inzaghi. The former Romania defender’s only prior senior managerial experience came during a short stint at Parma late last season, making his appointment a surprise. The upcoming matches against Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma and Antonio Conte’s Napoli will test the 43-year-old’s tactical mettle.

Roma, for their part, have relied on moments of fortune and the inspired form of goalkeeper Mile Svilar, who has produced several standout performances to preserve their strong start despite some uneven team displays. Napoli, meanwhile, face Torino earlier on Saturday in what looks a favorable fixture, with Matteo Politano and Alessandro Buongiorno both expected to return from injury.

AC Milan sit between the top three, two points off the summit, ahead of Sunday night’s meeting with struggling Fiorentina. The Viola remain winless and are missing Italy striker Moise Kean through injury. Milan have their own concerns — Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot are sidelined, with the French midfielder potentially out for a month due to a calf problem.

Player to Watch: Rafael Leão
Once Milan’s undisputed talisman, Leão has endured a stop-start season disrupted by a calf issue picked up before the campaign began. With Pulisic out nursing a hamstring injury — possibly for up to four weeks — the onus is on the Portuguese winger to rediscover his best form. Leão is set for his first league start of the season after two quiet substitute appearances against Napoli and Juventus, and coach Massimiliano will be counting on his spark in attack.

Key Stats

• 5 – Inter’s current winning streak since their late defeat to Juventus last month.
• 2 – Goals conceded by Roma in the opening six rounds of the Serie A season.