Opinion: Three standout performances from the draw against Inter

Roma were forced to settle for a point at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night, after conceding a late penalty against Inter Milan.

Falling behind to an early goal, the Giallorossi fought back through goals from Leonardo Spinazzola and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to put them on the verge of a deserved victory, only to succumb to an 88th minute penalty - converted by Romelu Lukaku.

We’ve picked out three of the best individual Roma performances from the 2-2 draw…

ROGER IBANEZ

The 21-year-old Brazilian has become - both literally and figuratively - central to coach Paulo Fonseca’s new three-man defence, and was superb against Inter.

His composure on the ball makes Ibanez the platform from which the side plays out from the back, and his 93 per cent pass completion on Sunday night showed how adept he is at doing just that.

His positioning was exceptional against an Inter side that boasts one of the league’s best and most fluid attacks, one that has only failed to score twice this season - against Roma and league-leaders Juventus.

Ibanez won seven duels, made five blocks, three clearances, and three more interceptions, as Roma were ultimately only undone by two set-pieces.

JORDAN VERETOUT

Veretout is another whose importance in the Giallorossi’s four-match unbeaten run cannot be underestimated, forming an excellent partnership with Amadou Diawara as the double pivot in the centre of midfield.

They have become the Roma engine room, and on Sunday night used and recycled the ball tremendously well at the Stadio Olimpico, meaning opposite numbers Roberto Gagliardini and Marcelo Brozovic were bypassed time and again.

Veretout came close to getting on the scoresheet too, and his lung-bursting second half run to meet Edin Dzeko’s through ball was typical of another all-action display.

HENRIKH MKHITARYAN

Another star since the switch to 3-4-2-1, Mkhitaryan’s threat was constant; he’s not only striking up a fearsome relationship with Dzeko, he's also setting the tone for his side’s high press.

His carry from halfway, and exchange with his captain, led to Leonardo Spinazzola’s equaliser at the end of the first half, and he looked to have grabbed the winner after a similarly marauding adventure with half an hour to go.

Mkhitaryan’s handy knack for finding space saw him pick the ball up with yet more open space to gallop into, and he duly obliged - before again linking with Dzeko and lashing home a third goal in his last four Serie A appearances.