Goals, drama, and big wins: highlights from Roma vs. Inter

When it comes to thrillers with plenty of goals and emotion, Inter fans have countless games etched in their memories. Yet, one of the most memorable of these are the clashes against Roma. Over the years, the two teams have contested several trophies, producing thrilling encounters brimming with goals. In the 184 league meetings between the Nerazzurri and the Giallorossi, a total of 532 goals have been scored, 299 by Inter and 233 by Roma, making this fixture the highest-scoring fixture in the history of Italian league football.

Since 1927, the year of their first encounter in the National Division, 98 years have passed. During this long period, countless stars have come and gone, and champions who have made history with Inter.

Among them, is one of the greatests of all time: Ronaldo, “Il Fenomeno.” The Brazilian striker played three times at the Stadio Olimpico with Inter, scoring a total of four goals. On April 11, 1998, Ronaldo made his first appearance in Rome, scoring a decisive brace. Both goals came in the same way: dribbling past the goalkeeper and calmly slotting the ball into the net, a trademark move of the Brazilian superstar.

The following year, Ronaldo repeated the feat with another brace. In the 1998/99 season, Inter defeated Roma 5-4 at the Olimpico in a spectacular match, with two goals from Ivan Zamorano and one from Diego Pablo Simeone.

In the early 2000s, Roma vs. Inter was a high-stakes clash, with both teams often battling for the Serie A title. Between 2006 and 2008, the Nerazzurri managed three consecutive wins, crucial victories in games that played a key role in the championship race. In the 2006/07 season, a single goal from Hernan Crespo was enough to see off the Giallorossi. The following two seasons, however, told a very different story, with Inter scoring four goals on each occasion.

In 2007/08, the Olimpico showdown opened with a penalty from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, answered quickly by Perrotta. But there were just four minutes before Crespo, Julio Cruz, and Ivan Cordoba scored three goals in just 11 minutes, sweeping Roma aside and securing three points for Roberto Mancini’s side.

The 2008/09 season brought another four-goal spectacle in Serie A, though this time the match was far less balanced than the previous year. Inter struck first with an early Ibrahimovic goal, then sealed the game in the second half with three more: another from the Swedish striker, plus goals from Dejan Stankovic and Victor Obinna, who scored his only goal for the Nerazzurri.

Inter have won the last four Serie A matches at Roma's home ground. On December 4, 2021, the Nerazzurri beat Roma 3-0, with all three goal being scored in the first half. Calhanoglu opened the scoring with a “gol olímpico” directly from a corner, while Edin Dzeko doubled the lead following brilliant team play. The third goal was a memorable moment for Denzel Dumfries: the Dutchman, perfectly set up by a cross from Bastoni, scored his first goal in an Inter shirt.

In the 2022/23 season, Inter won 2-0 with goals from Dimarco and Lukaku, but the last two encounters at the Olimpico are even more interesting. In the 2023/24 season, Inter’s 4-2 victory marked a crucial turning point. Acerbi headed the Nerazzurri into the lead, but Roma fought back to go ahead 2-1 by halftime with goals from Mancini and El Shaarawy. It was an unexpected setback for Inter, a team used to dominating every opponent. The second half, however, saw a total transformation. The intensity and determination of the Nerazzurri changed the course of the match under the pouring Roman rain: Thuram scored, Angelino’s own goal followed, and Bastoni sealed the win. Inter took home all three points propelling them towards their Second Star.

Finally, the most recent Roma vs. Inter clash on October 20, 2024, is just as memorable. Just like this season, the game came just after the October international break. It was a tricky, hard-fought game against a solid, well-organised Roma side. The solution came from a true champion: Lautaro Martinez. The Inter captain In the last four Serie A matches at Roma’s home ground, Inter has claimed victory every time. The first of these came on December 4, 2021, in a commanding display by the Nerazzurri. The game ended in a resounding 3-0 win for Inter, with the result already sealed in the first half thanks to a series of spectacular goals. Calhanoglu opened the scoring with a “gol olímpico” directly from a corner, while Edin Dzeko doubled the lead following a brilliant team move. The third goal was a memorable moment for Denzel Dumfries: the Dutchman, perfectly set up by a cross from Bastoni, scored his first goal in an Inter shirt.

In the 2022/23 season, Inter won 2-0 with goals from Dimarco and Lukaku, but even more attention deserves the last two encounters at the Olimpico. In the 2023/24 season, Inter’s 4-2 victory marked a crucial turning point. Acerbi headed the Nerazzurri into the lead, but Roma fought back to go ahead 2-1 by halftime with goals from Mancini and El Shaarawy. It was an unexpected setback for Inter, a team used to dominating every opponent.

The second half, however, saw a total transformation. The intensity and determination of the Nerazzurri changed the course of the match under the pouring Roman rain: Thuram scored, Angelino’s own goal followed, and Bastoni sealed the win, giving Inter three remarkable points and sending them hurtling toward the Second Star.

Finally, the most recent Roma-Inter clash on October 20, 2024, must be remembered—a league match after the October break, just like this season. It was a tricky, hard-fought game against a solid, well-organized Roma side. The solution came from a true champion: Lautaro Martinez. The Inter captain scored the only goal of the match with a brilliant finish at the end of a lightning-fast counterattack.

It was a historic goal: Lautaro equaled Istvan Nyers with 133 goals for Inter, becoming the club’s top foreign scorer. Today, he has reached 158 goals, matching Luigi Cevenini—and the captain shows no signs of stopping.with a brilliant finish at the end of a lightning-fast counterattack. It was a historic goal: Lautaro equaled Istvan Nyers with 133 goals for Inter, becoming the club’s top foreign scorer. Today, he has reached 158 goals, matching Luigi Cevenini, and the captain shows no signs of stopping.