Inter's Curious Streak: Lautaro Martinez Saves Point After Falling Behind Against AS Roma

Italy's champions have a recurring issue: they consistently find themselves trailing 0-2. The upside? The Nerazzurri rarely lose. Mostly.

For the third consecutive league game at the Stadio Olimpico, Inter conceded two goals to fall behind 0-2. On Saturday evening in Rome, it was Manu Kone, formerly of Mönchengladbach, who scored twice for the hosts (6', 37').

Yet, for the third time in a row, this deficit did not result in a loss for coach Cristian Chivu's defending champions. After halftime, it was striker Lautaro Martinez who netted a brace himself (46', 79').

The match, a top-tier league encounter, ended in a deserved 2-2 draw. This marked the first dropped points for both teams after four consecutive wins from the start of the season. Roma leads on goal difference. While Inter scores frequently, they also concede too often.

"What I said in the locker room stays strictly between me and the players. Everyone knows best what we missed in the first half," Chivu stated. "We urgently need to work on our opening phases and match our opponents' intensity from the first second."

Consistently 0-2 Down: How Did Inter's Recent Matches End?

The score was also 0-2 in the previous round against Udinese Calcio. However, Inter responded with goals from Carlos Augusto, Nicolo Barella, Marcus Thuram, Francesco Esposito, and Ange-Yoan Bonny to win 5-3.

Before that, against SSC Napoli, Inter also trailed 0-2 but fought back with goals from Martinez (2) and Thuram to secure a 3-2 victory.

In between, Inter started their Champions League campaign by going down 0-2 against Real Madrid. On that occasion, they only managed a consolation goal.

"It was a game that either team could have won in the end," Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini reflected after the draw in Rome on Saturday. "The early goal in the second half changed everything and gave Inter new energy. Still, we never stopped playing for the win. This match should give us satisfaction and great confidence."