Calhanoglu’s directly converted corner to open the game
José Mourinho had imagined a very different clash against his former club Inter Milan. In the Nerazzurri’s display of power on Saturday evening, Roma were a class inferior and were well served with the 0:3 in the end.
Compared to the previous match, Mourinho had changed his starting eleven in four positions. Kumbulla, Cristante, Vina and Shomurodov came in for Karsdorp, El Shaarawy, Diawara and Abraham.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi was last to celebrate a 2-0 win over Spezia Calcio. In comparison, three newcomers were on the pitch from the start. Bastoni, Barella and Dzeko replace Dimarco, Gagliardini and Martinez.
Calhanoglu’s stroke of genius
Both sides started cautiously before a stroke of genius from Calhanoglu gave the visitors the lead – with a directly converted corner kick (15th). While the Gillarossi started with more intensive efforts in the offensive, they retreated further after the early deficit. This played into the cards of FC Internazionale: Calhanoglu this time as a preparer and ex-Roma captain Dzeko as an enforcer made it 2:0 (24th). But that was not enough, the gaps in Roma’s backline were still glaring.
While the home side missed their best chance to tie the game in the 38th minute when Dumfries threw himself into a Vinas shot in the nick of time, the Dutchman made short work of the 3-0 lead himself in return. Bastoni was given far too much space in the halfway area and was able to strike the ball just behind the defensive chain, where Dumfries scored his first Serie A goal at the second post with a diving header (39th).
The air was out
With a comfortable lead behind them, Inter took a much more cautious approach after the break, relying on a stable defence that left Roma virtually no gaps. As the second half wore on, the air was finally out: Inter had to do nothing more than stand firm around their own goal, while the visitors continued to lack any assertiveness in the offensive. As time went by, it seemed as if Mourinho and Co. were only trying to limit the damage. After a very nice move in the final phase, in which Rome once again slipped into the role of extras, the substitute Sensi missed the 4:0.
After two defeats in a row, the pressure is growing on Rome on the next matchday. The team will be without captain Mancini and Zaniolo after receiving their fifth yellow cards against Spezia Calcio (13 December, 20.45 hrs). Before that, there is the Europa Conference League match against ZSKA Sofia on Thursday (18.45).
