Inter fans welcomed back Jose Mourinho, but his Roma side was thrashed 3-1 at San Siro to end a 12-match unbeaten run, with Denzel Dumfries, Marcelo Brozovic and Lautaro Martinez aiming for the title.
This was the first time Mourinho returned to San Siro as a Serie A opponent since winning the Treble in 2010, while Edin Dzeko also faced his old club, but Nicolò Zaniolo was suspended alongside Daniel Fuzato. Bryan Cristante and Arturo Vidal sustained injuries.
The Nerazzurri sat second with a game in hand and were fresh off a 3-0 Coppa Italia semi-final victory over Milan, while the Giallorossi were unbeaten in 12 Serie A matches.
Serie A Liveblog: Inter-Roma, Venezia-Atalanta, Torino-Spezia, Verona-Sampdoria
Hakan Calhanoglu unleashed a screamer from 25 metres out that stung Rui Patricio’s gloves, while Gianluca Mancini nodded a Lorenzo Pellegrini free kick wide.
Inter broke the deadlock at the end of a well-worked passing move, including a wonderful Calhanoglu through ball to send Denzel Dumfries running and kept his cool to beat Rui Patricio rushing out.
The Nerazzurri doubled their lead with Marcelo Brozovic, who cut inside from the left and was expected to assist Lautaro Martinez, but instead the Croatian smashed it right-footed into the far top corner from a tricky angle.
Dumfries nodded wide at the back post on Federico Dimarco’s cross, but Dimarco was crucial after the restart to prevent a Stephan El Shaarawy tap-in on the Pellegrini pull-back.
Lautaro Martinez stung Rui Patricio’s gloves from a tight angle and he scored on the resulting Calhanoglu corner, allowed a free header from six yards, largely because Roger Ibanez and Chris Smalling collided with each other.
Rick Karsdorp’s knockback put Rui Patricio in trouble, as only an Ibanez goal-line clearance prevented Joaquin Correa making it 4-0.
Instead, Roma got one back, Karsdorp’s smart dummy letting an Eldor Shomurodov pull-back through for Mkhitaryan to sweep into the top corner from 12 yards.
Carles Perez could’ve had another when found by Mkhitaryan in stoppages, but his first touch let him down.
Inter 3-1 Roma
Dumfries 30 (I), Brozovic 40 (I), Lautaro Martinez 52 (I), Mkhitaryan 85 (R)
lol This was always going be Inter’s easiest remaining fixture. As I’ve been saying for the past two weeks, Mourinho always rolls out the red carpet for Inter. I totally expected a heavy scoreline. Inter fans in the stadium were thanking Mouriho by the 70th minute for gifting them the usual three points and he looked quite satisfied.
If Inter’s gonna lose points, it will happen in another match.
A statement victory, but not a clean sheet
haha milan fan cry loud to make an excuse
The title is already sealed especially when they defeat Bologna next week, but more importantly I cannot see Milan getting 3 points in Rome. Then they have more difficult games and no way they take maximum points. They lost it with defeat to Spezia and drawing with Salernitana. They have nothing to be ashamed of given the standard of their squad and Inter having a first team as well as a bench that blows Milan’s out the water. Next year even more difficulties as you can never count Juve out with the money they will use to add to their squad. I cannot see the Scudetto ever going to the red half in my lifetime.
@Milan Fan… you really need to check your doctor, just now.
Hello 3-0 to cousins!
@Milan you wrong, our easiest fixture is coppa italia match vs Bilan
Mourinho the Inter mole. This result is a surprise to no one. Called it clearly yesterday. That was a nicely won bet.
Lazio will bring more satisfaction tonight….they will take at least one point from Milan.
@ricky, totally agree. I cannot see ACM doing it and they only have themselves to blame. Last year they blew an 8 point lead and needed to reinforce. They didn’t learn, added nothing of value and blew the lead this year as well. You are correct with the Juve mention as no doubt they will not be pleased with another poor finish by their standards and Inter are also growing. If they can sort out their financial situation only two teams in Italy that are capable to win the league, unless Milan can get Investcorp. They were being linked to Haller and that sums up their ambitions and where they are as the new bridesmaids of Italian football.
Inter are simply stronger than Roma. If what you think were true, Mou wouldn’t work. They are all professionals.
The morons saying that Mourinho let Inter win. I guess Pioli let Inter win then huh? As did Allegri. As did Sarri. As did Spalletti. As did Pirlo last season. You lot are hilarious. Can’t complain about refs today right losers? Or was there a wrong throw in at some stage hahaha
Milan fan do you need a tissue, boy? Wipe those tears.
Hey Milanisti don’t cry so much…. And THANK YOU for Hakan!!!
@Francesco My God, an interista trying to lecture others about being sporting. So when inter win, it’s bravura and all on the pitch. When others clean up for a decade, it’s refs and var? Vai a quel paese, vai.
@Norata
You are the ones living in imaginary conspiracy theories about Mourinho letting Inter win. Funny how juventini now mention and complain refs when they are on the losing side. I thought the refs were alibi of the losers like nedved said before? Guess that makes you losers then.
Let’s not forget that juve’s winning cycle in 2012 started with il gol di Muntari.
Sure Ahmed, that goal should have cancelled out 9 scudetti in a row, right?
And Francesco, it’s funny how you guys listen to Juventini when it’s convenient. In this case, inter are the strongest team but are really not building well for the future. Juve should be nowhere near you after an abysmal season but that’s not the case. That means you drop too many points against marginal teams. It’s not refs but the other teams tripping themselves up that have made the conditions favourable for inter. Well done for taking advantage.
CALMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA as the grandad of Italian and world football always says weekly, with jacket thrown, tossed and dumped on the touchline. Very un Juve like. All this talk of what could have been is irrelevant. You can only beat what is in front of you and Milan have bottled it once again and Szczesny threw away too many points. At least Milan have an excuse as the squad has always been too thin, low quality and a coach who is not a winner. Football is a cyclical game and Juve had their time but will be back in 5-6 years, when PhD Max Commander of the back, back, down, down has gone. The club is too big in Italy and it is not the EPL where competition is great. Inter is their only threat and they will dominate and win a couple more Scudetti’s but not break the record of 9, no way. Milan can have a cycle in 30 years unless they find a cash cow. The Muntari goal is not relevant as Juve would have gone on to 8 then as Milan were crumbling financially and Inter a wreck. More importantly the two key men are Don Beppe and PhD Max. As long as Inter keeps Marotta they will have a clear plan in recruitment of talent. Dybala will come back to haunt them if he stays in the country. On the flip side PhD Max is planning very well along with the Marlboro chain smoker. Cafu has been renewed and so too De Sciglio to follow suit. Rabiot is on big money, the prodigal son Flimsey will return better injured then ever before and who wants to buy a second hand banger in sideways Sandro? Even Morata is going to stay at a cut price as Atletico do not want him. The future with PhD Max is in great hands.
Its really fun to see Milan and Juve fans crying out loud here. Keep those tears coming!
So no complaints about the ref in this match?
Easier to blame it on Mourinho? LOL
The tought match is going to be against Bologna, let`s see if Inter manage to fire themselves up for that one!