MILAN - Inter’s return to league action after the break started just as it ended with a 1-1 draw. The Nerazzurri went behind at San Siro to an El Shaarawy goal in the 31st minute but found the strength to respond late in the second half as Vecino finally equalised in the 86th minute after a number of saves from Alisson. Spalletti’s side therefore move up to 43 points after 21 league matches.
The first chance fell in the seventh minute for El Shaarawy who was played in by a long Nainggolan ball before bursting into the area and firing over with his right. Inter responded with Perisic in the ninth minute. The Croatian cut in from the left but he found Alisson ready to make the save. In the 15th minute, Candreva looked to catch out the Giallorossi goalkeeper with a right-foot effort from outside the box but he couldn’t hit the target. Two minutes later, the Nerazzurri missed a chance with Perisic's header from Cancelo’s cross when the ball hit the post on its way out. At this point, Inter were pressing with confidence. In the 22nd minute, Icardi was being closed down by Manolas and Fazio while shooting at the edge of the box before he could get the shot off. In the 29th minute, found himself right in front of Alisson who made the save and Borja Valero’s follow-up effort was blocked. The visitors got up the pitch 60 seconds later when Pellegrini received the ball from Gerson on the edge of the area but he closed the angle too much and couldn’t keep the shot on target. The episode that broke the deadlock came in the 31st minute. El Shaarawy made the most of a Santon error, ran into the box and beat Handanovic with a delicate finish. The Nerazzurri had a chance straight after to respond. Icardi controlled the ball well from a Vecino pass but lost his balance before he could find the net with his right foot. The Nerazzurri captain tried again in the 43rd minute from a dangerous Skriniar through-ball but Alisson came out and got down low to keep him out. The teams therefore returned to the changing rooms with Roma a goal up.
Inter began the second half with a change, as Brozovic replaced Gagliardini. The 55th minute then saw Alisson flick away a deflected left-sided cross from Perisic, while the Giallorossi shot-stopper was then also on hand again to keep out Candreva’s fierce effort just seven minutes later. Icardi was the next man to try his luck come the 67th minute, although his header failed to find the target. Eder soon entered the fray and was instantly presented with a chance on goal, however, his straight effort was calmly saved by Alisson. The Nerazzurri had a great chance in the 74th minute, with Alisson somehow producing a wonderful save to tip Icardi’s acrobatic effort onto the post. Further chances soon fell for the home side, with Eder initially sending a header over from a great position. Icardi was then held up by yet another fantastic save by the Brazilian. However, the deserved equaliser finally arrived in the 86th minute, as Brozovic floated in a perfect cross for Vecino, who made no mistake in heading the ball into the back of the net. The match remained tense throughout the final four minutes of added time, although both teams eventually had to settle for a 1-1 draw and a point.
The Nerazzurri will next be in action on Sunday 28th January, when they take on Leonardo Semplici’s Spal at home at 12:30 CET.
INTER 1-1 ROMA
Goalscorers: 31' El Shaarawy (R), 86' Vecino (I)
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 7 Cancelo, 37 Skriniar, 25 Miranda, 21 Santon (77' 29 Dalbert); 11 Vecino, 5 Gagliardini (46' 77 Brozovic); 87 Candreva (70' 23 Eder), 20 B. Valero, 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi
Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 2 Lisandro, 10 J. Mario, 13 Ranocchia, 17 Karamoh, 33 D'Ambrosio, 55 Nagatomo, 99 Pinamonti
Coach: Luciano Spalletti
ROMA: 1 Alisson; 24 Florenzi, 44 Manolas, 20 Fazio, 11 Kolarov; 7 Pellegrini, 6 Strootman, 4 Nainggolan; 30 Gerson (70' 25 Bruno Peres), 9 Dzeko (84' 14 Schick), 92 El Shaarawy (74' 5 Jesus)
Substitutes: 18 Lobont, 28 Skorupski, 15 Moreno, 17 Under, 22 Abdullahi, 23 Defrel, 33 Emerson, 48 Antonucci
Coach: Eusebio Di Francesco
Bookings: Perisic (I), Cancelo (I)
Added time: 0' + 4'
Referee: Massa
Assistants: Meli, Costanzo
Fourth official: Banti
VAR operators: Damato, Vuoto
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