Inter Milan strengthened their push for the Serie A title with a commanding 5-2 victory over Roma on Sunday, ending a brief dip in form and opening a nine-point gap at the top of the table.
Nearest challengers AC Milan are set to face champions Napoli on Monday, with both sides hoping to keep the title race alive and challenge Inter’s pursuit of a 21st league crown.
The return of Lautaro Martinez proved decisive, as the forward scored twice after nearly two months out injured, while Marcus Thuram also netted his first club goal since early February to help Inter bounce back in style.
Hakan Calhanoglu’s powerful strike just before half-time, along with Nicolo Barella’s second league goal of the season, sealed an emphatic win that also dealt a blow to Roma’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification.
Roma remain sixth on the table, three points behind fourth-placed Como, who travel to Udinese, and level on points with Juventus, who host Genoa in their next fixture.
Inter showed their strength early, with captain Martinez putting them ahead within the opening minute after connecting with a neat pass from Thuram at the San Siro.
Roma briefly threatened a comeback when Gianluca Mancini equalised in the 40th minute, but Calhanoglu restored Inter’s lead with a stunning long-range effort just before the break.
The hosts resumed the second half with intensity, effectively deciding the match within 10 minutes as Martinez added his 16th league goal in the 52nd minute, again assisted by Thuram, who soon after headed in from a Calhanoglu corner.
Barella capitalised on defensive lapses to score Inter’s fifth shortly after the hour mark, rendering Lorenzo Pellegrini’s 70th-minute goal for Roma merely a consolation.