Soulé: No need to despair after Inter setback

Roma's 2–2 draw with Inter at the Olimpico featured two goals each from Koné and Lautaro. The match precedes a three-week break for international fixtures, which will take many Roma players away from the club's Trigoria training ground. The squad will return to training on Monday afternoon at reduced numbers as national team commitments continue.

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.

Matías Soulé spoke to DAZN after Roma's draw with Inter, acknowledging disappointment at surrendering a 2–0 first-half lead but insisting the result should serve as fuel for the season ahead. "We are tired, but also a bit disappointed," Soulé said. "We were ahead 2–0 and unfortunately they equalised. We shouldn't get down about it. Drawing in this way against a team like Inter, finishing the first half 2–0 up, and playing it like we did is very good for us. It has to give us energy for the next matches, to do much better." Soulé framed the draw as a positive sign despite Roma's failure to hold their advantage. "It's too early to say what the gap is between us and Inter. They are the strongest team for years. There is disappointment on our part because we were ahead, but we have to put this match to one side immediately. We drew with Inter, the strongest team, and it has to be a boost going into a championship that is still very long." On the competitive nature of Roma's attacking options, he highlighted the squad's depth: "We are all available, as happened against Atalanta when I came on for Mora. We are a very competitive team—whether from the start or during the match we all give our maximum. That is what makes you a team." Soulé reported improved physical condition after addressing a pubalgia issue during the summer. "Physically I feel very good. Fortunately I worked a lot in the summer on the pubalgia and it has gone away. Now I feel much better. Last year I could barely train. This year I feel much better." He noted his flexibility across the forward line: "I am used to playing on the right, but I need to know how to play on the left too and I try to do everything I can. On the right there is Dybala, who always makes the difference. On the left I try to give my contribution." Soulé concluded that Roma are "more of a team and more of a family compared to last year."

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.