MILAN (Interstat) — In a stunning opening-day display of firepower, Inter Milan routed AS Roma 5-2 in a Serie A match Sunday at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, defying a conservative pregame projection with an overwhelming performance.

The match, played April 5, 2026, was effectively decided by halftime as the hosts built a commanding lead. Inter striker Lautaro Martínez set the tone immediately, finding the net just one minute into the contest to give the Nerazzurri a dream start. The early goal energized the home side and put Roma on the back foot for the duration of the first half.

Roma’s defense managed to hold until the 40th minute, when substitute Gianluca Mancini leveled the score with a goal against his former club. The parity was shockingly short-lived. Just before the halftime whistle, in the second minute of added time, Inter midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu restored the home side’s lead with a well-taken strike.

Any hope of a Roma resurgence was extinguished in a blistering seven-minute span early in the second half. Martínez struck again in the 52nd minute, completing his brace and extending Inter’s advantage. Forward Marcus Thuram compounded Roma’s misery just three minutes later, making it 4-1. Midfielder Nicolò Barella added a fifth goal in the 63rd minute, completing a devastating period of play that showcased Inter’s attacking depth and precision.

Roma managed a late consolation goal in the 70th minute through substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini, assisted by fellow substitute Niccolò Pisilli. Pisilli was later shown a yellow card in the 60th minute, one of the few disciplinary notes in a match dominated by offensive action.

The final scoreline stood in stark contrast to the pregame simulation from Interstat, which had projected a 1-1 draw. The same analytics service, however, gave Inter Milan a 96.70 percent probability to win based on its ELO rating system, a forecast that proved far more accurate as Inter controlled proceedings from the opening kickoff.

The result immediately separates the two sides in the early Serie A table. Inter Milan begins its campaign with a victory, starting the season with one win and no losses both in league play and across all competitions. AS Roma, conversely, opens with a defeat, registering no wins and one loss in Serie A and overall.

The comprehensive victory underscores Inter’s status as a title contender, demonstrating a ruthless efficiency in front of goal. For Roma, the heavy defeat raises immediate questions about defensive solidity as it seeks to rebound from a difficult start to the 2025-2026 season.