Fantastic Inter put three past Roma

MILAN - Inter’s recent run of form continues after securing a thumping victory against Jose Mourinho’s Roma side. Having guaranteed their place in the Coppa Italia final earlier in the week, the Nerazzurri seemed to pick up right where they left off. Simone Inzaghi’s men broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark through Denzel Dumfries before Marcelo Brozovic doubled the advantage ten minutes later. After entering the break two goals to the good, Inter came back out in the second half in a similar vein. It only took seven minutes for El Toro to take the goal tally to three. With a comfortable lead, things slowed down a bit for the Nerazzurri and Roma managed to get a consolation goal, but the game ended with a crucial 3-1 victory for Inter. They now sit back atop the table, at least until Milan’s match against Lazio on Sunday evening.

It was a tense start to the game, as each team tried to find their rhythm, but it was the home side that eventually managed to get into their stride. There was the first glimmer of what was to come when Hakan Calhanoglu’s long-range effort forced a save from Rui Patricio. But it was on 30 minutes that Inter managed to get that all-important break-through. While one of the goals against Milan on Tuesday involved every player getting a touch of the ball, this one was certainly more direct. Calhanoglu’s brilliant through-ball set up Dumfries (30) perfectly and the Dutchman slotted the ball calmly through Rui Patricio’s legs.

With the momentum going their way and Roma struggling to keep up, the Nerazzurri continued to press. Just ten minutes after the first went in, Ivan Perisic managed to sprint away and find Brozovic (40), who shimmied past a couple of Giallorossi shirts and unleashed an unstoppable finish into the top corner. Inter headed in at half-time with a comfortable two-goal advantage.

Roma looked to pull themselves back into the match early in the second half, but it wasn’t long before the Nerazzurri found another opening. It was Lautaro Martinez’s (52) turn this time, as he headed home from Calhanoglu’s corner. Roma’s unbeaten run in the league since January looked set to come to an end. The Giallorossi tried to get a foothold in the game and managed to get more of the ball in the last 30 minutes, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan (85) pulling one back for the visitors, but it was too little too late and Inter emerged victorious. That’s four wins out of the last four in Serie A for Simone Inzaghi’s side as they continue their title race.

Inter 3-1 Roma (HT 2-0)Scorers: 30 Dumfries (I), 40 Brozovic (I), 52 Lautaro (I), 85 Mkhitaryan (R).

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 6 De Vrij, 32 Dimarco (95 Bastoni 63); 2 Dumfries, 23 Barella, 77 Brozovic (5 Gagliardini 72), 20 Calhanoglu, 14 Perisic (18 Gosens 72); 9 Dzeko (19 Correa 63), 10 Lautaro (7 Sanchez 82).Subs not used: 21 Cordaz, 97 Radu, 8 Vecino, 13 Ranocchia, 33 D'Ambrosio, 36 Darmian, 38 Sangalli.Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

ROMA (3-4-2-1): 1 Rui Patricio; 23 Mancini, 6 Smalling, 3 Ibanez; 2 Karsdorp, 7 Pellegrini (17 Veretout 64), 27 Oliveira, 59 Zalewski (5 Vina 78); 92 El Shaarawy (11 Perez 64), 77 Mkhitaryan; 9 Abraham (14 Shomurodov 78).Subs not used: 63 Boer, 15 Maitland-Niles, 24 Kumbulla, 37 Spinazzola, 42 Diawara, 52 Bove, 55 Darboe, 64 Afena-Gyan.  Coach: Jose Mourinho.

Booked: Mancini (R), Brozovic (I), Oliveira (R), Calhanoglu (I).Added time: 1+4.

Referee: Sozza.Assistants: Carbone, Bindoni.Fourth official: Manganiello.VAR: Irrati.Assistant VAR: Zufferli.