Serie A | Inter 5-2 Roma: Lautaro Martinez inspires magnificent Manita

Inter swept Roma aside 5-2 with Lautaro Martinez bagging a brace on his comeback, a Hakan Calhanoglu stunner from distance, Marcus Thuram and Nicolò Barella goals.

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The Nerazzurri saw their lead at the top sliced from 10 points to six, but had Lautaro Martinez back for the first time since February 18, even if they lost Yann Bisseck and suspended Carlos Augusto. Matias Soulé was back for the Giallorossi after seven weeks out, though Wesley joined Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson on the treatment table.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was an extraordinary return to the field for the Inter captain, who scored in the opening 60 seconds of his comeback. Marcus Thuram rolled across from the right and Lautaro Martinez fired into the roof of the net first-time from six yards, getting in front of Zeki Celik.

The hosts had a huge double chance soon after, as first Hakan Calhanoglu’s scorcher stung Mile Svilar’s gloves, then the Federico Dimarco follow-up was deflected inches wide.

Svilar also parried a Lautaro Martinez angled drive when springing the offside trap on Dimarco’s pass, but Roma started to get into the game and Donyell Malen’s header on a Soulé free kick forced a very difficult Yann Sommer fingertip save.

Malen also drilled just wide from distance, while both Nicolò Barella and Piotr Zielinski had efforts charged down in the same move. Mario Hermoso had penalty appeals, but Manuel Akanji’s hands were clamped behind his back when the cross hit his elbow.

Roma got their equaliser when a corner was not cleared effectively, so Devyne Rensch stood up a ball from the left by-line for Gianluca Mancini to nod in undisturbed from six yards.

Just as they thought they were going into the break on level terms, Calhanoglu scored a stunner out of nowhere, unleashing a ground to air rocket from 35 yards that swerved mid-air to surprise Svilar under the bar.

HAKAN ÇALHANOĞLU TAKE A BOW

Amazing strike from the Turk puts Inter back in front against Roma

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There was more bad news for Roma, as Mancini limped off with a muscular problem at half-time, replaced by Daniele Ghilardi.

Inter added a third goal, as Thuram beat sluggish Rensch on a long bouncing ball, cut inside and provided the pass for Lautaro Martinez to sweep first-time into the far bottom corner from 13 yards with the inside of the right boot.

Moments later, Thuram was left unmarked for a glancing header at the near post on Calhanoglu’s corner to put the hosts 4-1 up.

With the scoreline looking comfortable, Cristian Chivu took Bastoni off to a standing ovation from San Siro, giving him some much-needed reassurance after the Italy debacle.

The Nerazzurri ran riot, as Nicolò Barella made the most of a double defensive error to burst into the box and smash in from 12 yards.

Roma responded, as first Malen fired over, then he set up Lorenzo Pellegrini for a scuffed finish to roll into the near bottom corner for 5-2.

Denzel Dumfries dinked it over Svilar to flash across the face of an open goal, then Svilar made another great one-handed save at the near post on Francesco Pio Esposito set up by Ange-Yoan Bonny’s back-heel flick.

Dumfries steered a free header wide from a corner too and Pellegrini’s free kick grazed the top corner, as there could’ve been more than the seven goals at San Siro.

Inter 5-2 Roma

Lautaro Martinez 1, 52 (I), Mancini 40 (R), Calhanoglu 45+2 (I), Thuram 55 (I), Barella 63 (I), Pellegrini 70 (R)