Inter Milan Bounce Back with Dominant 5-1 Triumph Over Roma

Roma aimed to secure back-to-back league victories for the first time since the middle of January, but their hopes were shattered within the opening minute.

Marcus Thuram pursued a pass from Manuel Akanji along the right flank and crossed for Lautaro Martínez, who shook off his defender and slotted the ball into the net to give the Nerazzurri an early lead.

Mile Svilar had little chance to stop the shot, although he managed to block efforts from Hakan Calhanoglu and a further attempt by Martínez, sparing his team from an even worse beginning.

The away side gradually found their rhythm and nearly equalised around the halfway point of the first period, only for Yann Sommer to produce an acrobatic save to tip Donyell Malen’s header away from a free-kick.

Malen saw another long-range effort fly narrowly past the post shortly afterwards, marking the sole notable opportunity for both teams until Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad levelled the score just before the interval.

Devyne Rensch received a ball from Matias Soule on the left and delivered a precise cross that Gianluca Mancini nodded in.

Yet the tie was short-lived, as right on half-time, Çalhanoglu unleashed a powerful strike from beyond 30 yards, which sailed past the outstretched Svilar to restore the hosts’ advantage.

This strike shifted the balance firmly towards Inter once more, and they capitalised by netting twice within the opening 10 minutes after the restart.

Initially, Thuram outjumped Rensch in the air to spark a three-against-two break, enabling the French forward to link up with Martínez again, who coolly converted his brace.

Soon after, Thuram rose above the crowd to direct Çalhanoglu’s corner kick over Sommer and into the goal.

Approaching the 65th minute, Nicolo Barella gathered a rebound and tried to find Thuram once more, but the ball bounced back to him, leaving the Roma backline exposed as he advanced and rifled in the fifth goal.

The opponents gained a measure of consolation with 20 minutes remaining when Lorenzo Pellegrini applied a neat finish after Malen had pulled the Inter rearguard apart, although Denzel Dumfries squandered a prime opportunity to extend the lead, prior to Svilar’s sharp stop to thwart Pio Esposito.

Cristian Chivu’s team now boasts 10 victories from their past 12 encounters with Roma, while the Giallorossi remain without a win in their last five Serie A away fixtures.