AS Roma 0-1 Inter Milan: Oct 18, 2025 Match Report Serie A

October 20, 2025 By Johan Curtis No Comments 4 minutes

AS Roma fell 0-1 to Inter Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on 18 October 2025, as Ange-Yoan Bonny’s early strike sent Inter to the top of Serie A and extended their impressive away form under Cristian Chivu.

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Match Information

Competition: Serie A 2025–26, early‑season top‑of‑the‑table clash
Date & day: Saturday, 18 October 2025
Kickoff time: Evening local time in Rome (ET early afternoon slot for US viewers)
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Final score: AS Roma 0–1 Inter Milan
Goal: Ange‑Yoan Bonny 6′ (assist Nicolò Barella)

Starting lineups

AS Roma XI (3-4-2-1)

Mile Svilar; Evan Ndicka, Mario Hermoso, Ginaluca Mancini; Zeki Çelik, Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné; Matías Soulé, Wesley; Lucas Pelligrini, Soule; Paulo Dybala

Inter Milan XI (3-5-2)

Yann Sommer; Alessandro Bastoni, Francesco Acerbi, Manuel Akanji; Denzel Dumfries, Federico Dimarco, Hakan Çalhanoglu, Nicolò Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan; Lautaro Martínez, Ange‑Yoan Bonny.

Match Stats: AS Roma vs Inter Milan

Match Stat	Roma	Inter Milan
Ball possession	57%	43%
Expected goals (xG)	1.35	0.63
Big chances	3	1
Total shots	15	12
Goalkeeper saves	2	5
Corner kicks	4	5
Fouls	18	29
Passes	509	389
Tackles	8	23
Free kicks	29	18
Yellow cards	4	3

Match Analysis

Inter’s Early Lead

Inter landed a heavy early blow: in the sixth minute, Barella released Bonny in behind Roma’s high line and the French forward finished calmly past Svilar for 0-1. That goal allowed Inter to settle into their preferred script – compact mid‑block, aggressive duels, and quick breaks through their front two and wing‑backs – while Roma struggled to turn sterile possession into clear shots before half‑time.

Roma Fight Back

The second half swung the momentum. Roma came out with greater urgency, forcing Sommer into a flurry of saves in a short spell, including a dangerous Dybala free‑kick and a powerful Hermoso header. Dovbyk then missed a big-headed chance with Sommer off balance, while Cristante and Ndicka both went close from corners as Roma piled on aerial pressure.

Inter Dominate Rome

Inter, however, always looked capable of killing the game on the break. Dumfries was denied at the start of the half, and in the closing stages, Mkhitaryan clipped the outside of the post after another incisive counter, underlining how close the visitors were to a second goal. Roma continued to test Sommer and swing crosses into the box late on, but Inter’s back line and set‑piece organisation held up under sustained pressure.

Tactical Shifts and Talking Points

From Roma’s POV

From a tactical point of view, this was a classic clash between territorial dominance and transition efficiency. Roma’s structure gave them numerical superiority in midfield, with Cristante and Koné trying to funnel the ball into Dybala’s feet and then out wide to create crossing situations for Dovbyk. Inter responded by collapsing central spaces, forcing Roma wide and trusting their centre‑backs and wing‑backs to win first balls and second balls in the box.

From Inter’s POV

Inter’s 3-5-2 also created a constant counter‑threat. Bonny and Martínez repeatedly pulled into the channels, dragging Roma’s centre‑backs out and opening lanes for Mkhitaryan and Barella to run into. Off the ball, Inter’s willingness to foul and break up rhythm – reflected in their high foul count and multiple bookings – turned the match into a stop‑start contest that prevented Roma from building sustained, high‑tempo attacks between the lines.

Key Performances

Ange‑Yoan Bonny (Inter): Scored the only goal, stretched Roma’s defence all night, and continued a breakout run of form that has helped Inter navigate the post‑Thuram era in attack.
Yann Sommer (Inter): Produced a crucial cluster of saves early in the second half, especially from Dybala and Hermoso, preserving the clean sheet when Roma were on top.
Paulo Dybala (Roma): Roma’s main creative outlet, dangerous from set pieces and from the edge of the box, but ultimately unable to find the final action to beat Sommer.

The Final Say

The win lifted Inter to the top of Serie A on goal difference, level on 15 points with Roma and Napoli, but sending a strong signal about their credentials in direct head‑to‑head clashes with fellow contenders. For Roma, this narrow defeat was a reminder of the margins at the elite level: winning the xG battle, controlling possession, and racking up set‑pieces matter little when an early lapse and missed big chances define the scoreboard.