Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Stadio Olimpico in a Serie A fixture that leaves both teams tied on 13 points at the top of the table. Manu Koné scored twice in the first half—the first after six minutes with a volley, the second at the 37th-minute mark—to put Roma in control. Inter, managed by Cristian Chivu, came from two goals down in the second half through a Lautaro Martínez brace. Martínez struck within 50 seconds of the restart to reduce the deficit, then sealed the draw with a volley at the 80th-minute mark, with some sources describing his finish as coming after he controlled the ball with his thigh during a goalmouth scramble. Most outlets confirm the match was played at high intensity and that both teams could have won.
Koné's performance drew widespread praise. Multiple outlets note he became only the fifth Roma player ever to score a first-half brace against Inter at home, joining Roberto Pruzzo (1980), Ciccio Graziani (1986), Abel Balbo (1995) and Francesco Totti (2013). The midfielder's involvement in Roma's opening goal came through Paulo Dybala's creativity down the right and Nahuel Molina's cross, though outlets differ slightly on the precise mechanics of the second goal: some report Gianluca Mancini's touch inadvertently assisting Koné, while others describe it as a tap-in following Dybala's cross. Koné was withdrawn at the 60th-minute mark, replaced by Niccolò Pisilli, coinciding with Roma's loss of grip on the encounter. Gasperini confirmed Koné has not yet completed a full 90 minutes this season due to his involvement in the World Cup.
Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed satisfaction with the result despite frustration at surrendering the lead. He told multiple outlets that the match proved Roma can compete at the highest level and that both teams could have won. Gasperini pinpointed Inter's early second-half goal—conceded within 50 seconds of the restart—as the turning moment, describing how it gave Inter momentum and shifted the contest decisively. He criticized Roma's defensive vulnerability at the start of the second half, terming it "the third time this has happened" in the season and describing the concession as "superficial and presumptuous." However, he stressed that Roma never surrendered despite the setback and continued to create chances, with Donyell Malen producing an extraordinary turn in the box at the 68th-minute mark only to see Martínez make an outstanding save. Gasperini also noted the physical demands on his squad, confirming that Gianluca Mancini came off due to cramp-related tiredness and that Leonardo Balerdi was substituted for the same reason. The coach emphasized Roma's need for consistency and depth across the squad, saying: "We have to be happy with the path we're taking and the quality we're bringing to these matches. There's a lot of positive energy in this team, we need to continue on this path." When asked whether Roma could challenge Inter for the title, Gasperini stressed the need for improvement across the entire squad and indicated the focus remains on Roma's own performance rather than the title race.
Matías Soulé, speaking to DAZN after the match, acknowledged disappointment at dropping points from a two-goal lead but found encouragement in the result against the defending champions. "Drawing with Inter after leading in the first half should give us energy for the matches ahead," he said. Soulé credited Gasperini with improving his physical condition after struggling with pubalgia throughout the previous season, saying he now feels "very good" and has "overcome the problem." He also identified a pattern of second-half weakness: "Yes, we need to improve this. It's happened with Atalanta and Fenerbahçe too. This needs to improve—we're not tired at the start of the
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