Inter came from behind to beat Roma 4-2 in a thriller to extend their lead at the top of Serie A to seven points and end Daniele De Rossi’s perfect start in the capital.
De Rossi, who succeeded Jose Mourinho on a deal to the end of the season last month, won his first three games as Giallorossi boss, but faced a daunting task against an Inter side unbeaten in Serie A since September.
Francesco Acerbi headed the visitors in front under torrential rain in the capital after 17 minutes, but Roma mustered a superb response as Gianluca Mancini nodded in a free-kick before Stephan El Shaarawy cannoned a finish off both posts and in to nudge them ahead on the brink of half-time.
A determined Nerazzurri side came flying out in the second half, taking four minutes to equalise when Marcus Thuram tucked in a cross before the striker’s pressure forced the unfortunate Angelino into an own goal six minutes later.
Benjamin Pavard clipped the post with a sensational volley and Romelu Lukaku squandered a huge chance one-on-one with Yann Sommer as the goalkeeper pinched the ball off his toes.
Despite a late surge of pressure from the home side, Inter’s league-best defence held on and caught out the high-pressing visitors on the counter as Alessandro Bastoni finished off a three-versus-one breakaway.
Credit: eurosport.com
