The Mauro Icardi show

My first game of Serie A this season and it was one that was full of entertainment, drama and luck. If every game I watch in Serie A is like this, I'm in for a treat. Here's my match report on proceedings.

After a poor Roma preseason, they were looking to prove to their fans that they were capable of challenging if not for the title, but atleast for the Champions League spots. Inter on the other hand have their sights set on the title and this was an excellent chance to show they meant business.

The game began and it was a very lively opening. One thing that surprised me was how well the two teams dealt with the opposition press, the press being a much more used tactic than in the Premier League for example.

It was Inter who came out with the first massive opportunity of the game and what an opportunity it was. Just after the ten minute mark, the ball fell to Candreva in the box and in rushing the shot, he scuffed it and the keeper Alisson saved, only for it to fall to Icardi who almost had an empty net to shoot at, but somehow he put it wide. A glorious opening for Interview that should've definitely found the back of the net.

A couple minutes later however, Roma fashioned a decent chance as a cross from Strootman was headed away by Miranda, the ball fell to Kolarov on the half volley and from range, he smashed it against the post, desperately unlucky from Kolarov albeit been a half chance, we all know what Kolarov's left foot is capable of.

Then came the breakthrough that Roma deserved. The ball came to Nainggolan around 30 yards from goal, and he dinked a perfect ball into the path of a revitalised Edin Dzeko, who chested it down, and volleyed it first time past Handanovic. 1-0 Roma, and at this rate, it didn't look like it'd be the last for Roma.

After some decent pressure from Roma and a dangerous ball across the box from Perisic that no one could get on the end of, Roma hit the post again. As Kolarov delivered the ball in from the left, Defrel controlled it and laid it off to Nainggolan who then rocketed a shot against the outside of the post from about thirty yards out. Desperately unlucky from Roma's point of view and they should probably be more than one up at this stage.

About 5 minutes on from Nainggolan's strike, Inter fashioned a half decent chance for themselves too as after some nice build up play, waiting for a moment to pounce, playing the ball left to right around the edge of the Roma area, they found Valero in the area who cut it back to Icardi with the help of a deflection who smashed it towards the near post only for an athletic Alisson to parry away. Then came half time with Roma on top overall at the Stadio Olympico.

Despite the high paced football, there weren't any real moments of magic at the start of the second half. However Roma were denied a penalty after good work down the left from Perotti saw him brought down by the onrushing Skriniar. No penalty, and a corner given with the referee judging that he got the ball.

Perotti continued to run proceedings as around 10 minutes on, he cut inside from the left, around 20-25 yards from goal and rocketed a shot, once again, against the far post. Roma, and Perotti, desperately unlucky again as they hit the woodwork for the third time in the match, and we're only in the 65th minute.

Unfortunately for Roma, a substandard Inter team strike back after a carefully threaded ball through from Candreva finds Icardi, he gets the ball out of his feet, hits it early and catches Alisson out at his near post. An underserved equaliser, but an excellent finish nonetheless.

Straight from the kickoff, Roma strike back after Perotti plays a stunning ball towards the substitute El Shaarawy, who's in on goal, but stretching, he chips Handanovic, only for the debutant at left back Dalbert to acrobatically clear away.

From that point however, Inter started to dominate as they clearly grew in confidence finding that equaliser, and they started to get some pretty presentable opportunities. One for Joao Mario after the ball was crossed to him at the back post by Candreva, instead of shooting, he tried to find a teammate and the attack went to waste. Only moments however, Inter had a corner and it fell really invitingly to Ivan Perisic, only for him to miss the ball completely. A half chance for Perisic, but a presentable one nonetheless. Despite the Inter pressure, Roma still made something out of the situation as they hit Inter on the break and Nainggolan would've been in to score if only Perotti were able to find him, but in all fairness, it was a very difficult ball to execute.

Although Roma had been on top for the majority of the game, they came to rue their missed chances as Ivan Perisic crosses to find an unmarked Icardi who took a touch with his left facing away from goal, and on the turn struck with his right and found the near corner. 2-1 to Inter now and another clinical finish from Icardi who now boasts a record of four goals in two games. The Roma fans who were bouncing were sitting, and the Inter fans who were sitting are bouncing.

It could've got worse too for Roma as only a few minutes later, Icardi was played through by Valero and after tossling with Manolas, he shot, but he shot straight at the keeper Alisson. A great opportunity for the hattrick.

But Roma had the opportunity to level as Dzeko cut the ball back to Nainggolan who looked set to score, only for an incredible block from Dalbert throwing his body on the line. The ball then came back to Nainggolan from the block but then he blasted over. If Inter were to come away with a win, they'd have Dalbert to thank.

However after Roma started throwing everyone forward there was always a risk of them being exposed on the counter, and after Joao Mario won the ball back from Nainggolan just past the half way line, Roma were in trouble. Joao Mario proceeded to find Ivan Perisic, who skipped past Jesus with some slippery stepovers and crosses it into Vecino who tucked it away at the near post for his first goal in an Inter Milan shirt. Game over.

The full time whistle was blown to end Roma's misery after a game which they certainly didn't deserve to lose and it definitely looked like a hard one to take for the players, and for the fans. On the Inter side of things though, it was an excellent win as it was only the second time Roma had lost at home in 15 months and having had very little success at this ground in the past, it'll be a massive result and statement to the other title challengers.

MOTM: Mauro Icardi

Despite missing the big opportunity in the first half, Icardi was always causing panic in the Roma back line and keeping Inter keeper Alisson on his toes. Also scoring the goal to get Inter's confidence back was crucial in the win.

Special mention: Diego Perotti

I don't often do special mentions but had he been on the winning side he could easily have been my man of the match. Interesting Milan's right back Skriniar wasn't given a moments rest as Perotti was everywhere. Passing, running and hitting the post. Perotti was near impossible to stop on the day.