· 2 min readIn this Roma vs Inter match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
Roma and Inter came into this game with four wins from four, in a clash between two of the best teams of this early Serie A season. Gasperini’s Roma had made a magical start, while Inter continued to show their problem: when they lose defensive concentration, they concede too much. And against a Roma side with Malen, the league’s top scorer with six goals, that could be fatal.
That was exactly what happened early on. In the 5th minute, Dybala received after a high recovery, held the ball up and crossed towards the byline. Molina, playing on the left today, headed it into the six-yard box, where Koné appeared alone to score. Malen’s movement, coming towards the ball, helped open up that space. Josep Martínez still got a touch, but the ball went in. A goalkeeper at another level might have saved it.
Roma continued to dominate. Their counter-pressing was suffocating and Inter were struggling even to get out of their own box. However, Chivu’s side gradually began to find opportunities on the counter-attack. Lautaro wasted an incredible chance in the 29th minute, completely alone at the far post, and Thuram also found himself in a good position shortly afterwards.
Inter were already threatening, but Roma continued to control the game.
In the 37th minute, Koné appeared again. Dybala crossed, Mancini was in the perfect position, but completely missed his shot. The ball fell to Koné, who made no mistake. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but the decision was overturned. 2-0 and, for the second game in a row, Inter were two goals down. And what a game Koné was having, not just because of the two goals.
Inter responded in the best possible way. Straight after half-time, in the 46th minute, Lautaro carried the counter-attack, played it out to Thuram and received it back inside the box. The shot came off awkwardly, but the Argentine managed to place it into the corner with great quality. 2-1 and Inter were alive again.
The second half was much more balanced. Inter’s midfielders were involved less because the plan increasingly revolved around counter-attacks, especially down the left, where Wesley’s very attacking positioning left space to exploit.
Malen also tried to respond: in the 68th minute, he controlled with his back to goal and turned to shoot, forcing Martínez into an incredible save.
In the 79th minute, Inter finally equalised. After Thuram forced Svilar into a great save and Lautaro hit the crossbar, Bisseck found the Argentine, who had space to shoot and make it 2-2. Two goals for Koné, two for Lautaro. Inter had been 2-0 down again and came back again. This is what this team does.
There was still danger until the end, with Thuram testing Svilar on a counter-attack in the 88th minute, but neither side managed to break the deadlock.
Post-match
Roma were better in the first half, pressed very well and created more, but Inter found their way of surviving. For a game between two teams who had been perfect up to this point, 2-2 ends up being an appropriate result: four goals, moments of great quality and two teams that showed exactly what characterises them at the start of this season.
