Inter Milan reacted in time this Saturday and rescued a 2-2 draw against Roma in the main duel of the fifth day of Serie A, after overcoming a two-goal deficit thanks to a double from Lautaro Martínez.
Roma started the game with enormous intensity and quickly took the lead with two goals from Manu Koné. The French midfielder scored in the 6th and 37th minutes to put the current Italian champion on the ropes.
The Roman team was even able to extend their lead before the break, but Paulo Dybala failed to take advantage of two good chances.
Inter changed its image after halftime and found its great protagonist in Lautaro. The Argentine forward scored a goal just after the start of the second half, in the 46th minute, and appeared again in the 79th minute to establish the final 2-2.
The tie allows Roma and Inter to remain at the top of the standings, both with 13 points after having won their first four games in the championship.
“We played them face to face. Either team could have won,” said Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma coach.
Cristian Chivu, Inter coach, acknowledged that he had to demand a reaction from his players during the break. “That’s between them and me,” he responded when asked about what he told them in the locker room.
“I prefer to focus on the second half, which in terms of attitude, determination and character was extraordinary,” added Chivu.
The match was also marked by the tribute to Sandro Mazzola, legendary Inter footballer who died this Saturday at the age of 83. Both teams paid tribute to the former player before the start of the match and the Inter players wore black armbands.
Lautaro maintains his pursuit for the lead in scorers
With his two goals, Lautaro Martínez reached four goals in this Serie A and was two behind the Dutch Donyell Malen, Roma forward, who this time could not score.
The Argentine had already been the protagonist last Monday, when Inter overcame another two-goal deficit against Udinese to end up winning 5-3.
In the other games played this Saturday, Cagliari defeated Udinese 1-0 and remains third in the standings, one point behind Roma and Inter. Daniel Maldini, son of Paolo Maldini and grandson of Cesare Maldini, scored the only goal of the match.
Bologna and Torino, for their part, tied 1-1.
