Mauro Icardi sinks Roma at San Siro

These sides used to battle for the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup, but went into this game in desperate need of a victory. The Nerazzurri had little chance of qualifying for Europe, while the Giallorossi were joint second with Lazio.

Gary Medel and Davide Astori were suspended, though Fredy Guarin, Marcelo Brozovic, Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas returned from their bans. Gervinho was finally fit to start again after injury and boost a misfiring front line.

The last 20 editions of this fixture in all competition provided 70 goals, an average of 3.5 per game, but Inter had failed to win any of their last seven meetings with Roma.

De Rossi tested Samir Handanovic from distance and Nemanja Vidic charged down a Gervinho effort, but it was Inter who took the lead.

Hernanes made space for himself on the edge of the box and unleashed a left-foot rocket that flew across Morgan De Sanctis into the bottom corner.

Moments later Victor Ibarbo threatened to equalise, but his shot smacked against the base of the far post.

Hernanes also fired wide under pressure from Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Radja Nainggolan wasted from a promising position.

Afer the restart Mauro Icardi twice failed to make the most of an inspired Guarin slide-rule pass that sent him one-on-one with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, then Alessandro Florenzi blasted over following a poor clearance and Kostas Manolas nodded a corner off target.

Roma were pouring forward and got their deserved equaliser. Andrea Ranocchia gave the ball away to Pjanic, who immediately found Nainggolan for a fierce angled drive. Handanovic’s view was shielded by Juan Jesus.

Guarin fired straight at De Sanctis at the near post, but Handanovic was at full stretch to fingertip away a Pjanic free kick and Nemanja Vidic was decisive on the rebound.

Both Ranocchia and Juan Jesus were booked, meaning they’ll be suspended against Inter next week.

Icardi pounced on a defensive error with six minutes left on the clock only to balloon over the bar from 12 yards.

That was only a warning, as Icardi got on the end of a Lukas Podolski through ball, turned his marker and beat De Sanctis from a tight angle for his 17th Serie A goal of the season.

Palacio blasted inches over and Roma simply had nothing left to throw at them.

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