Roma vs Milan prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups - 25 January 2026
One of the marquee clashes of Serie A's 22nd round unfolds this Sunday at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, where the local side Roma hosts Milan. I'm offering a bet on the outcome of this showdown, factoring in the visitors' consistent form and the hosts' need for points in their top-four pursuit.
Match preview
Gian Piero Gasperini's men endured a tough spell at the start of winter, but have now hit their stride again – three consecutive Serie A wins with clean sheets have reignited hope among the Giallorossi faithful. The team looked especially convincing against Torino, with Malen and Dybala getting on the scoresheet, and Paulo increasingly involved in decisive moments.
At home, Roma have been rock solid: seven wins in their last nine matches across all competitions. The team remains in the hunt for a Champions League spot and even harbors slim hopes of a Scudetto challenge, but the clash with Milan will be the ultimate test of those ambitions.
Max Allegri has fine-tuned Milan's game, and the Rossoneri remain firmly in the title race, just three points adrift of Inter. A 20-match unbeaten run in Serie A speaks volumes – Milan have become far more pragmatic and consistent in crucial phases.
The recent wins over Como and Lecce were hard-fought, but highlighted the importance of new signing Niclas Füllkrug, who has started to find the net. Competition up front is fierce with Leão, Pulisic, and Nkunku, while the defense is showing maturity. A win in Rome could all but end Roma's title aspirations.
Probable lineups
- Roma: Svilar, Mancini, N'Dicka, Gilardi, Celik, Cristante, Koné, Wesley, Sule, Dybala, Malen
- Milan: Maignan, Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartezaghi, Pulisic, Leão
Match facts and head-to-head
- Milan are unbeaten in Serie A since August, going 20 matches without defeat.
- In their last meeting at the Olimpico, Roma defeated Milan 3-1.
- Paulo Dybala has been involved in 13 goals against Milan in Serie A, but hasn't scored at the Olimpico in almost 400 days.
Prediction
Both teams are adept at pragmatic, defensive football, especially in head-to-head clashes with direct rivals. Expect a tightly contested battle with chances at a premium. Milan have a slight edge in squad depth and stability, but Roma are always capable of grabbing a result at home. Betting on "Under 2.5 goals" looks to be the optimal choice.
