Soulé: Draw with Inter gives us energy despite disappointment

Roma dominated the first half and built a two-goal lead through Manu Koné's double, but Inter mounted another comeback to earn a 2–2 draw at the Olimpico. The Nerazzurri, holding their third consecutive two-goal deficit, surged after the interval as Lautaro Martínez halved the gap before scoring again to level the match with a volley past Mile Svilar. Roma's performance dipped sharply in the second half as Inter took control of the game. Gasperini's side demonstrated they can compete with Italy's champions and remain equipped for a strong campaign, though there is clear frustration at surrendering a commanding position. Inter's comeback—their third in succession, though this time without victory—highlighted both their resilience and Roma's defensive vulnerability after the break. Martínez produced a crucial save from Donyell Malen, and Thuram came close to a late winner, with his effort coming inches from a third goal.

Manu Koné scored twice in the first half as Roma drew 2-2 with Inter at the Olimpico, a result that keeps both teams level at the top of Serie A on 13 points. Koné's performance in the opening 45 minutes was the dominant feature of a thrilling encounter: he recovered possession relentlessly, drove dangerous counterattacks and positioned himself perfectly to exploit vertical spaces. His two goals came from Paulo Dybala's creativity down the right, with Nahuel Molina's header setting up Koné's first-half brace. The opening goal arrived after 6 minutes—a perfectly-timed first-touch volley that Martinez could not stop. The second came at the 37-minute mark, a precise finish after Gianluca Mancini's soft touch. A lengthy VAR check from Lissone confirmed the goal's validity before the Olimpico erupted. With this performance, Koné entered Roma's history books as only the fifth player ever to score a first-half brace in a Serie A match against Inter at home, joining an exclusive group: Roberto Pruzzo (1980), Ciccio Graziani (1986), Abel Balbo (1995) and Francesco Totti (2013). The display demonstrated Koné's emergence as a complete midfielder—dominant in both defensive interception and lethal in the final third. Inter reorganised under Chivu in the second half and Lautaro Martinez's brace pulled the match level, handing the visitors another comeback. Koné's removal at the 60th minute—replaced by Niccolò Pisilli after an hour played at unsustainable intensity—coincided with Roma's loss of grip on the encounter. The draw extends Roma's drought in home fixtures against Inter, which now stretches back to 2016. Before the international break, the message is clear: Roma are genuine Serie A title contenders, and they have discovered in Koné a dominant force capable of controlling midfield while also proving decisive in front of goal.

Roma and Inter finished 2-2 at the Stadio Olimpico in a match where the hosts dominated the first half before surrendering their lead. Roma went two goals ahead through a Manu Koné double, with Gasperini's team playing at a high level against their visitors. Inter, managed by Chivu, emerged transformed after the interval, with Lautaro Martínez scoring twice to level the match. The Argentine captain struck first to reduce the deficit early in the second half, then sealed the draw with a volley past Mile Svilar despite the goalkeeper's touch. Inter have now come from two goals down for the third consecutive occasion, though this time without securing victory. Roma showed they can compete with the Serie A champions and remain equipped for a strong campaign, though Gasperini's side will rue the manner of the collapse. Donyell Malen saw a clear chance saved by Martínez, while Thuram came close to a late winner for Inter but could not find the breakthrough. The result offers encouragement to both teams—Roma that they can threaten the elite, Inter that their comeback resilience remains intact.

Matías Soulé expressed disappointment at Roma's failure to hold on to a 2–0 lead against Inter in Serie A's fifth matchday, but insisted the squad must not be demoralised by the result. "I am truly tired and a bit disappointed because we were ahead 2–0," Soulé said. "However, we must not give up because playing a match like this against Inter is very good for us — it must give us energy for the coming matches and to do much better." Asked about the gap between Roma and Inter at this stage, Soulé acknowledged that Gasperini's side faces the league's strongest team. "It is still too early to say. They are the strongest not only this year but already in previous years. There is disappointment on our part because we were two goals ahead. We must reset immediately. This must be extra motivation for a championship that is very long." He highlighted his own physical improvement since the start of the season, noting that a groin injury that had plagued him last year has now cleared. "I did a lot of work to cure it, even during the holiday, and that is what has got rid of it, so now I feel good," he explained. "Last year I hardly trained because I couldn't move. This year I have done some work and I feel much better. Then I have to get used to playing on the left — I don't feel the same as when I play on the right — but I try to do my best to help my teammates." Soulé also praised the competitive quality of Roma's attacking options. "We are all available, as happened with Atalanta when I came on and Mora had played very well from the start. We are a very competitive squad — whoever starts in the first half or the second gives their best and wants to play. That is what has raised the team's level compared to last year. We are more of a squad, more of a family, and that is important."

Inter president Giuseppe Marotta spoke ahead of his side's match against Roma, paying tribute to Sandro Mazzola as a symbol of the club's greatness before offering an assessment of Roma's current form. Marotta described Roma as an opponent of considerable quality, highlighting the early-season progress they have made. "It will be an interlocutory result whatever it may be," he said. "It's an opportunity to face an opponent of very great value. Aside from the result, the performance matters a great deal. Roma has demonstrated in this start, collecting points and acclaim for the football expressed. It's an opponent of all due respect." Mazzola, who wore Inter's shirt for seventeen consecutive seasons as part of the great Inter of Herrera and Angelo Moratti, represents the values Marotta believes must be preserved and passed to current players. Roma, under Gasperini, have impressed both in their display on the pitch and their results. The Stadio Olimpico provides a crucial advantage in matches of this calibre. When asked what Inter find appealing about Roma, Marotta highlighted Gasperini's experience and quality, and his ability to transmit tactical concepts to his players regardless of squad turnover. "The quality of the game and the organisation are the best characteristics of this squad," Marotta stated. "It has a stadium and a large crowd that gives that extra push needed in these circumstances."

Roma host Inter at the Olimpico in a top-of-the-table clash, both sides arriving unbeaten after four matches and seeking to reach the first international break in first place. Gasperini has a full squad available with no absences. In defence, the established trio of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso is confirmed, with no surprise inclusion for Balerdi. Molina and Wesley operate on the flanks, Koné and Cristante patrol midfield, and Soulé lines up in the attacking three behind Malen, with Dybala in support. Roma field a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso at the back, Molina and Wesley as wing-backs, Cristante and Koné in central midfield, Soulé and Dybala in the attacking midfield positions, and Malen as the lead forward. On the bench are Gollini, De Marzi, Ghilardi, Rensch, Koulierakis, Lulli, Pisilli, Pellegrini, de Roon, Castro and Mora. Inter deploy a 3-5-2 with Martinez, Bisseck, Akanji and Bastoni in defence, Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Jones and Dimarco in midfield, and Lautaro Martinez and Thuram in attack.

Manu Koné scored twice in the first half as Roma drew 2-2 with Inter at the Olimpico, a result that keeps both teams level at the top of Serie A on 13 points. Koné's performance in the opening 45 minutes was the dominant feature of a thrilling encounter: he recovered possession relentlessly, drove dangerous counterattacks and positioned himself perfectly to exploit vertical spaces. His two goals came from Paulo Dybala's creativity down the right, with Nahuel Molina's header setting up Koné's first-half brace. The opening goal arrived after 6 minutes—a perfectly-timed first-touch volley that Martinez could not stop. The second came at the 37-minute mark, a precise finish after Gianluca Mancini's soft touch. A lengthy VAR check from Lissone confirmed the goal's validity before the Olimpico erupted. With this performance, Koné entered Roma's history books as only the fifth player ever to score a first-half brace in a Serie A match against Inter at home, joining an exclusive group: Roberto Pruzzo (1980), Ciccio Graziani (1986), Abel Balbo (1995) and Francesco Totti (2013). The display demonstrated Koné's emergence as a complete midfielder—dominant in both defensive interception and lethal in the final third. Inter reorganised under Chivu in the second half and Lautaro Martinez's brace pulled the match level, handing the visitors another comeback. Koné's removal at the 60th minute—replaced by Niccolò Pisilli after an hour played at unsustainable intensity—coincided with Roma's loss of grip on the encounter. The draw extends Roma's drought in home fixtures against Inter, which now stretches back to 2016. Before the international break, the message is clear: Roma are genuine Serie A title contenders, and they have discovered in Koné a dominant force capable of controlling midfield while also proving decisive in front of goal.

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."

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."