Inter clawed their way back from a massive two-goal hole to snag a 1-1 draw against Roma on Saturday, saving their unbeaten Scudetto defense in a top-table six-pointer. Cristian Chivu’s side stared down a huge halftime deficit, denying the Giallorossi their first home win in this fixture since way back in 2016. What a gut-punch for Roma, and what a heart-stopper for Inter fans.
First Half Fiasco: A Defensive Meltdown and Missed Chances
This game kicked off like a nightmare for the reigning champions. Roma jumped to an early lead when Manu Kone latched onto Nahuel Molina’s cross, opening his account for the 2026/27 season. Inter had a golden opportunity to even things up, but Yann Bisseck couldn’t beat Milan Svilar one-on-one. And then, just to twist the knife, Lautaro Martinez squandered another promising chance, getting on the end of Federico Dimarco’s low cross but blasting it off target. Roma made them pay for that wasted finishing, with Kone doubling his tally from point-blank range right at the end of the first half. Goalie Josep Martinez couldn’t do much on either goal, as his defenders just straight-up let him down. Bisseck, who already missed that sitter, also lost track of Gianluca Mancini, who involuntarily assisted Kone’s second. Alessandro Bastoni was too slow to close down Molina for the opener, and Dimarco’s defensive weaknesses were exposed, with both Roma goals coming from his flank. Manuel Akanji was the only center-back who showed up in the opening 45, though he was lucky to get away with just a yellow card for a cynical tackle on Donyell Malen. The midfield of Curtis Jones, Piotr Zielinski, and Nicolo Barella just couldn’t impose themselves either, struggling for creativity and losing physical battles.
El Toro’s Roar: The Unbelievable Comeback
But here’s the kicker: Inter flipped the script in the second half. Lautaro Martinez, “El Toro,” pulled one back in the very first minute of the second half with a fortunate left-footed finish, kicking off the visitors’ comeback. Then, in the 79th minute, he did it again. That man leveled the score with a venomous strike, keeping Inter’s unbeaten start to their Scudetto defense absolutely intact. Andy Diouf, who was quiet defensively in the first half, really grew into the contest after the break, becoming a genuine threat down the right flank. Josep Martinez, despite the earlier goals, pulled off a massive save from Malen at close range, proving vital in keeping Inter in the game. Marcus Thuram, after a near-anonymous first half, clearly stepped up when it mattered most. This team showed some serious fight to come back from a 2-0 deficit for the *third* Serie A match in a row. Are you kidding me?
What It Means: Unbeaten Streak Lives On
This draw might feel like two points dropped after a dominant second half, but coming back from being down two goals on the road is huge. Keeping that unbeaten start to their Scudetto defense alive is everything. They stared down the barrel of a tough loss and Lautaro Martinez simply refused to let it happen. It’s a statement win, even if it’s “just” a draw, proving this squad has serious grit. Now they gotta keep that momentum rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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