Inter captain Lautaro Martinez scored twice in the second half as the Serie A champions recovered from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw away to Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma had appeared on course to take control of the early title race after Manu Koné scored twice before half-time, but Inter produced a forceful response after the restart. The result left the two clubs level at the top of the table on 13 points after five matches.
Koné puts Roma in control
Roma made the breakthrough in the sixth minute when Koné finished with his right foot to give the hosts an early advantage. The midfielder struck again 31 minutes later, this time with his left, and Roma went into the interval with a 2-0 lead.
It was a commanding first-half position in a meeting between two sides that had entered the fixture with perfect Serie A records.
Martinez leads Inter's response
Inter needed only a minute of the second half to begin their comeback. Martinez reduced the deficit in the 46th minute, giving Cristian Chivu's side immediate momentum after the break.
The visitors continued to push for an equaliser and were rewarded in the 79th minute when Martinez struck again. The Argentine captain's second goal completed Inter's recovery and ensured the points were shared in Rome.
Inter's own match coverage described Martinez's first goal as a left-footed finish from a Marcus Thuram assist, while the equaliser came when the captain reacted to a scramble inside the penalty area.
What the draw means for Serie A
The 2-2 result represented the first dropped league points of the season for both Roma and Inter. They remain level on 13 points after five matches, with Roma holding the advantage on goal difference.
The result also underlined Inter's ability to recover from difficult positions. Their response at the Olimpico followed another comeback in the previous round, keeping the champions firmly involved at the top of the early Serie A standings.
Roma and Inter share the spoils
Roma can take encouragement from a first half in which Koné's double put them in a powerful position, but Martinez's intervention transformed the contest after the interval.
For Inter, the captain's brace turned what had looked like a first league defeat of the campaign into a valuable away point. With both clubs still setting the pace near the top of Serie A, the four-goal draw provided an early indication of how closely contested the title race could become.
