Match Report: AS Roma V Inter- 17th October 2025
On 19 October 2025 by Gillyowl
Roma 0 -1 Inter
Roma fall short in frustrating night at the Olimpico
Ange-Yoan Bonny’s early goal was enough to hand Inter a narrow and somewhat fortuitous win over Roma at the Olimpico — denying the Giallorossi the chance to go clear at the top of the Serie A table.
Roma came into the match joint top and with the perfect opportunity to pull away after Napoli’s slip-up against Torino. Despite missing Angelino through illness, Gian Piero Gasperini was boosted by the return of Paulo Dybala, who started as a False 9. Inter, meanwhile, were without key men Thuram, Darmian, and Di Gennaro.
The visitors struck early, with Bonny just about keeping level with the Roma defence before slotting past Mile Svilar — a tight call that VAR confirmed in Inter’s favour. It was harsh on the Giallorossi, who had barely settled into rhythm.
Roma responded well, Bryan Cristante’s header skimming the bar from a Dybala corner, while Sommer was repeatedly called into action to deny Dybala and Mario Hermoso as Roma pushed forward in waves. The Giallorossi looked dangerous down the right, and Wesley’s crosses caused real panic, though the final touch just wouldn’t come.
After the break, Dybala’s creativity again shone — forcing Sommer into another fine save from a clever Kone pass — before Celik and Dovbyk both came close in a frantic spell of Roma pressure. Gasperini’s men kept knocking on the door, and debutant Leon Bailey added energy and width in the closing stages.
Inter, however, rode their luck. Frattesi and Mkhitaryan both came close to a second on the break, with the latter striking the post, but Roma never stopped pressing for an equaliser.
It wasn’t the result the Giallorossi deserved, and fans will rightly feel it was a missed opportunity to go top. Still, there were positives — Dybala looked sharp, Sommer was Inter’s best player by far, and Roma’s fighting spirit never faded.
That said, a few tactical choices left supporters puzzled. Wesley, playing out of position on the left, struggled to deliver on his weaker foot — a repeat of the preseason issue against Villa. Rensch might have been the more natural fit. Dybala, though brilliant, isn’t an out-and-out striker, and Pellegrini feels wasted out wide. Evan Ferguson, who’s been on fine international form, surely deserved earlier minutes, while Dovbyk’s effort and accuracy remain a concern.
A win or even a draw would have taken Roma top, at least for the night. Instead, it’s a frustrating “what could have been” — but this team has shown too much promise under Gasperini to let one result derail their momentum. The Giallorossi will come again, stronger.
