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Inter Fight Back to Hold Roma to 1-1 Draw in Serie A Six-Pointer
·19 September 2026·1h ago

Inter Fight Back to Hold Roma to 1-1 Draw in Serie A Six-Pointer

Source: Cult of Calcio

Inter came from two goals down to draw 1-1 with Roma on Saturday in a top-table Serie A fixture, extending their unbeaten record under Cristian Chivu's management. Roma dominated the opening 45 minutes and twice found the net through Manu Koné, who scored his first goals of the 2026–27 season. Koné latched onto a Nahuel Molina cross early on, then doubled his tally at the end of the first half from close range as Inter's finishing let them down repeatedly. Yann Bisseck missed a glorious chance to restore parity midway through the first period, and Lautaro Martinez squandered another opportunity when he failed to keep a low Federico Dimarco cross on target at the far post.

Inter's comeback began in the first minute of the second half when Lautaro slotted home a left-footed finish to pull one back. The Argentine forward then leveled the score in the 79th minute with a venomous strike, keeping the reigning champions' Scudetto defence unbeaten. Milan Svilar made a massive save to deny Donyell Malen from close range and keep Inter in the contest. The result denied Roma their first home win in this fixture since 2016, as Chivu's side demonstrated the resilience that has become their hallmark this season.

Lautaro earned a 9/10 rating for his performance, unfazed by his early miss and finishing with his weaker right foot to fire Inter back into the game before striking home a thumping half-volley. Marcus Thuram was instrumental to Inter's second-half resurgence, earning an 8/10 after a near-anonymous first half and assisting Lautaro's first goal with a delightful cutback. Bisseck received a 5/10 for spurning his sitter and losing track of Gianluca Mancini, who involuntarily assisted Koné's second goal. Federico Dimarco also rated 6/10, as Roma's quick transitions exposed his defensive weaknesses with both Giallorossi goals coming from his flank, though he was decent in the final third.

Manuel Akanji was lucky to escape with just a yellow card for a cynical tackle on Malen on the stroke of halftime and earned a 6/10. Alessandro Bastoni received a 5/10 after a rough first half, too slow to close down Molina for Roma's opening goal and performing well below his standards. Curtis Jones, the former Liverpool midfielder, struggled to impose himself and rated 5/10, often found second-best in the physical battle against Roma's intense pressure.

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# Roma 1-1 Inter: Giallorossi Squander Early Dominance in Six-Pointer

Roma and Inter played out a 1-1 draw at the Olimpico in a significant Serie A fixture that saw the Giallorossi dominate the opening period before the Nerazzurri fought back in characteristic fashion. Manu Koné gave Roma a commanding first-half advantage with two goals—the first from a Nahuel Molina cross early on, then a second from close range at the end of the half—but Inter's resilience proved decisive. Lautaro Martinez pulled one back just one minute into the second half before leveling the score in the 79th minute with a powerful strike, extending Inter's unbeaten run under Cristian Chivu. Milan Svilar made a crucial save to deny Donyell Malen and keep Roma in the contest. The result marked Roma's failure to secure their first home win against Inter since 2016, denying them an opportunity to capitalize on their strong early-season form.

Cult of Calcio rated Lautaro 9/10 for his two-goal contribution, remaining composed despite an early miss and finishing decisively with his weaker foot. Marcus Thuram earned 8/10 after a subdued first half, providing crucial involvement in Inter's comeback, while both defenses attracted criticism. According to the outlet, Bisseck (5/10) and Bastoni (5/10) struggled for Inter, with the former wasting a clear chance and the latter too slow to react to Roma's opening goal. Inter's defensive frailties were exposed early, particularly down Federico Dimarco's flank, which Cult of Calcio rated at 6/10 for his vulnerability to Roma's transitions despite decent attacking contributions.

Before kickoff, Il Messaggero reported that Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged Inter's superiority, calling them "more powerful" and "stronger than everyone," yet framed the match as a chance to close the gap in the title race. Gasperini has not beaten Inter in his last eight seasons across 36 meetings, though he detected real optimism in the Roma environment. The Olimpico sold out for the fixture, which arrived at a critical juncture where Roma have demonstrated they can compete in individual matches but face questions over consistency across a long campaign.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

Inter fought back from a two-goal deficit for a third Serie A match in a row to hold Roma to a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s top-table six-pointer. Cristian Chivu’s side bounced back from a huge halftime deficit to deny the Giallorossi their first home win in this fixture since 2016. The game could not…

Read the full article in Italian at Cult of Calcio.

Read original on Cult of Calcio

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Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the media after Roma drew with Inter in a fifth-round Serie A fixture where both teams arrived level on points. The match went to the wire at the Stadio Olimpico, with Inter scoring early in the second half to take the lead, but Roma refusing to surrender and creating chances throughout. Gasperini emphasised the positives despite the dropped points. "I believe this match should give us satisfaction and awareness," he said. "There are margins for improvement for everyone, even for Inter. We must be happy with the path we are taking and the quality we are putting into these matches, not just condition and enthusiasm. There are many positive energies in this squad and we must continue like this." He acknowledged physical tiredness in the second half forced defensive changes, noting that Balerdi had to withdraw from the match. "His performance was outstanding," Gasperini said of the defender. "We took him because we knew his value. His injury — cramps — is nothing serious but was crucial. We had to make another change at the back which prevented us from making changes in midfield or attack." On midfielder Manu Koné's substitution, Gasperini explained: "It was my choice. He had clearly dropped off in midfield. He doesn't have 90 minutes from the start of the season — he went all the way through the World Cup, and his stamina at the moment is not what it was last year. But Pisilli did well, as did the others who came on." The coach also praised Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé for playing the full match. Regarding Roma's recent vulnerability at the start of second halves, he said: "Probably yes, and the way we conceded the goal was superficial, presumptuous if you like. But I must say that even in difficulty at 2-1, Roma always tried to win. We had an obvious chance with Malen; Inter had chances too but we never gave up." Gasperini reflected on the bigger picture: "We played a great match against a team that was very well. For me the value is even higher." Looking ahead, Gasperini outlined his challenge: "We will necessarily have to use the squad, rotate from the start without losing competitiveness and we can do that. In these first five matches I relied on a core from last season to give the new players a way to settle in, and I am convinced they will be protagonists. After the break the calendar will be hard — we restart with Como and Real Madrid. There it becomes a different championship, a marathon. But I have faith. I see a homogeneous squad and even the substitutes always come in well."

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1h ago

Gasperini on Roma's draw with Inter: 'We showed a high level, but that early second-half goal changed things'

Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged Roma's performance in their draw against Inter but pinpointed a defensive lapse as the turning point. Speaking to DAZN, he said: "It was a match where both sides could have won. The goal we conceded early in the second half gave Inter great energy. We never gave up and had chances of our own." Gasperini stressed Roma's upward trajectory despite the result. "We should be content with the path we're on, the quality we bring to these matches," he said. "There are many positive energies and we must continue on this road." He highlighted the physical improvements across the squad, noting that Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala stayed on the pitch until the end while others required changes due to fatigue, with Leonardo Balerdi also substituted. The coach acknowledged Inter's own capacity to improve and emphasized Roma's need for consistency and depth heading into a demanding fixture schedule following the international break. Gasperini was critical of Roma's repeated vulnerability at the start of the second half. "It's the third time this has happened—it cannot be coincidence. The way we conceded was superficial and presumptuous," he said. On the match itself: "We were still in it to win at 2–1. We had the chance to make it 3–1 when Donyell Malen hit the goalkeeper in the face. Inter had chances too, but we never surrendered."

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