Three key issues Inter must address after Roma clash ahead of Barcelona crossroads | OneFootball

‘Inter ran out of gas’ was probably the most recurring comment in San Siro’s press stand at the end of the Nerazzurri’s 1-0 defeat against Roma, their second consecutive Serie A loss, which risks definitely jeopardising their Scudetto chances in favour of Napoli.

However, on closer inspection, the problems emerging from their fifth league defeat of the season go beyond fitness, as Simone Inzaghi’s side also seemed devoid of any motivation, especially in the first half.

Federico Dimarco’s worrying dip in form

Federico Dimarco’s dip in form is undoubtedly among the main concerns Inzaghi must face, especially in a period that has also seen Denzel Dumfries ruled out with injury for weeks, forcing Inter to further concentrate their play on the left flank.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 27: Marko Arnautovic of FC Internazionale looks dejected after the team’s 1-0 defeat following the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 27, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Not only has the Italy international stopped posing the constant threat he once brought down his side, but he has also consistently become one of the team’s most vulnerable points in defence.

While his physical structure doesn’t help him, many of the goals conceded by Inter have come from his side, and with him on the pitch — as was the case today, and previously against Orsolini and Harry Kane in crucial fixtures — the pattern is worrying.

Imagining him defending against Lamine Yamal in the upcoming two-legged Champions League clash with Barcelona is a seriously concerning prospect.

Have Inter lost their fighting spirit?

Barely a couple of weeks after their memorable comeback from a goal down against Bayern Munich, Inter now look like a side that has lost its ability to respond strongly when needed.

Even putting aside the Bologna defeat — when they conceded too late to mount a real comeback — both losses against Milan and Roma showed a Nerazzurri side that seemed completely emptied of fighting spirit once they fell behind.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 27: Matias Soule of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Manu Kone during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 27, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Today, against the Giallorossi, the atmosphere among Simone Inzaghi’s men suddenly changed after Benjamin Pavard’s injury, quickly followed by Matias Soulé’s opener.

Yet after that, Inter lacked any real reaction, despite knowing there was still plenty of time to mount a comeback — and knowing that a loss today could well prove fatal to their hopes of winning a tight Scudetto race against Napoli.

Need for speed: Dumfries and Thuram’s absence felt

Finally, Denzel Dumfries’ return to the pitch offers just a slight beacon of hope for a Nerazzurri side that has dramatically felt the absence of their quickest players, whether it be him or Marcus Thuram.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 27: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale applauds the fans after 1-0 defeat following the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 27, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Without them, their attempts to move the ball up the pitch become extremely complex and laborious, forcing many of their players to cover huge distances and further exposing their tiredness in the final stages of a seemingly never-ending season.

Recovering them ahead of the Barcelona clash, as well as for the final games of the Serie A season, will be pivotal to allow Inter to rediscover their ability to transition quickly from defence to attack, alternating phases of low-block defending with periods of high pressing.