We all thought Inter might drop points during the last weekend, that they had lost their edge or some of their confidence, but instead, in the most important and delicate match, the one against Gian Piero Gasperini\u2019s Roma, Cristian Chivu\u2019s men dug deep and secured three points with an extraordinary performance, one of their best in recent times, driven in part by the intensity with which they played.
The match, played on Sunday evening, on Easter night no less, was almost a one sided affair. If not in the overall flow of the game, since the Giallorossi held their own against the Nerazzurri in the early stages and throughout the first half, then certainly in the final scoreline. Inter won 5 to 2, and the margin could have been even wider.
The home side took the lead after just a few seconds, not even a full minute, thanks to a goal from Lautaro Martinez, set up by Marcus Thuram, who found his way into the box with ease. It was far too simple for him, allowing Lautaro to strike unmarked due to Zeki Celik’s weak marking. Roma managed to equalize at 1 to 1 through a well worked move down the wing involving Matias Soulé, Devyn Rensch and Luca Mancini, who headed past Yan Sommer.
At that moment, Roma seemed in control, even capable of winning the match. However, after a poor turnover by Bryan Cristante, they were forced onto the defensive instead of building on their momentum, and Hakan Calhanoglu produced a goal that will be remembered for a long time. From around 35 meters, the Turkish midfielder unleashed a shot that found the net, helped in part by Mile Svilar being too far off his line, perhaps not expecting such an attempt.
Inter confirm favourites' tag
Roma’s real collapse came in the second half, when Inter completely took over. First came Lautaro Martinez with his second goal, marking his return after a long absence, followed by Thuram scoring from a corner, a decisive blow given the context. All of this happened within just a few minutes. Between the 52nd and 55th minute, Roma conceded twice, and less than ten minutes later they allowed a fifth, scored by Nicolo Barella.
The scoreline was harsh and perhaps exaggerated compared to what was happening on the pitch, but that is football, where even brief lapses are punished. For Roma, the last to resist was Lorenzo Pellegrini, who scored with a left footed strike from outside the box and later tried again from a free kick, but the match ended 5 to 2. He is the beating heart of the team and he proved that, as always.
With this victory, Inter effectively distanced themselves from their pursuers, also benefiting from Milan’s loss to Napoli, and are now racing toward the Scudetto. It is not mathematically decided yet, but with seven matches remaining, their lead is significant. When such dominant victories come against teams of Roma’s caliber, it becomes increasingly difficult for those chasing them to keep pace.
Roma blowing top four chance
For Roma, the race for fourth place has now become extremely complicated. The Giallorossi trail both Como and Juventus, and qualification for the Champions League no longer depends solely on their own results. The club’s owners, the Friedkin family, have made it clear that they want to reshape the core of the team, something that emerged after the match, albeit behind closed doors. This is not the first time such signals have appeared.
On several occasions, the ownership has leaned toward populist decisions aimed at appeasing supporters. Gasperini, however, understands that football operates differently and that success follows a more coherent path. Revolutions may free nations and peoples, they belong to history and have little to do with the pitch.
The coach once again defended the core of the team, namely Pellegrini, Mancini, and Cristante, although grouping them together oversimplifies matters, as each situation is different, especially that of the number 7, who continues to rewrite the club’s history with goals and assists.
Gasperini reiterated that the team needs to be strengthened, not dismantled, calling any drastic overhaul madness, and he is right. There are still seven matches left, with 21 points available. As difficult as it may seem, Roma can still achieve their objective and qualify for the Champions League. To do so, they must set aside internal issues, find unity for the final stretch of the season, and trust Gian Piero Gasperini, the man who more than anyone knows how to build a winning project, as he has already demonstrated in Bergamo.