Inter blows Roma away with a massive statement win
Inter Milan sent a strong message to its Serie A title rivals by coming from behind to thump Roma 4-2 at Stadio Olimpico.
Francesco Acerbi gave Inter the lead in the 17th minute but the home side struck back twice through Gianluca Mancini and Stephan El Shaarawy to lead at half-time.
But four minutes in to the second period, Marcus Thuram poked home to level matters and Inter took flight from that moment. Thuram was a pest in the box once again to pressure Angelino into putting the ball into his own net in the 56th minute, and Alessandro Bastoni added gloss to the scorline in stoppage-time.
Inter, which still has a game in hand, extended its lead at the top of the table to seven points over Juventus, with Massimiliano Allegri's side hosting Udinese on Tuesday (AEDT) to try and narrow the gap again.
Victory allowed Inter to build on its crucial win over Juventus last week, while it spelled a first defeat for new Roma head coach Daniele De Rossi after three straight wins since replacing Jose Mourinho in the hot seat.
Seeking another win that would send it up to fourth, Roma started well, and Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer had to tip over a shot from El Shaarawy inside the opening minute.
Matias Pellegrini also came close from distance, but Inter grew into the game and grabbed the lead when Federico Dimarco’s corner was headed home by Acerbi.
But Roma was level within 10 minutes when Mancini nodded home from a free-kick, with set-plays proving dangerous for both sides in the slippery conditions.
An end-to-end clash saw chances for Dimarco and Paulo Dybala at both ends before the hosts stunned Inter by grabbing the lead moments before half-time.
Pellegrini led a sweeping counter-attack that sent the ball out to El Shaarawy on the left flank and his rising shot clattered against both posts before nestling in the net to put Roma 2-1 up.
Inter responded strongly at the start of the second half when Thuram met Darmian’s cross with the neatest of finishes to level it up again.
Angelino was unfortunate to divert past his own keeper to put Inter ahead for the first time in the game and the visitors were intent on pressing home their advantage with Benjamin Pavard striking the post with a fine shot moments later.
Roma’s best chance to give an engrossing game one final twist came in the 71st minute when former Inter man Romelu Lukaku was played clean through, but he had the ball picked off his feet by the alert Sommer.
It sparked a grandstand finish from the home side with Sommer having to be on his toes again to tip away an effort from Leonardo Spinazzola with six minutes left on the clock.
But Roma’s increasing desperation left holes at the back and the visitors confirmed victory after a thrilling game through the unlikely figure of Bastoni.
