Competition breeds excellence – in business, in art, in life generally – and in football, of course. Unlike some of the past seasons where there was only one team who was ever going to win the title, the race for Scudetto this season is a three-horse race. At least!Inter are certainly one of those proverbial horses. Not so much because of the fact they’ve won it last term, but because they keep proving doubters wrong this season and, more importantly, they keep getting results.Inzaghi thought former Inter boss Jose Mourinho a lesson in modern football on Saturday night with a breathtakingly ruthless display in the capital. Three first-half goals condemned The Special One to a certain defeat against the club he led to Champions League glory in 2010. But this is not 2010. The times have changed.A remarkable Hakan Calhanoglu goal, scored directly from a corner kick, was the red alert for Roma – but they failed to react to the warning. They kept giving the ball away and were soon punished by the player they’ve gotten rid of just a few months ago – ironically for being too old and slow. Edin Dzeko rolled the years back and scored a lovely goal on his return to Stadio Olimpico.Dutch right-back Denzel Dumfries may not currently be as good as Achraf Hakimi, the man whom he replaced in the black and blue team, but his performances of late have been pretty good. Tonight he scored a powerful header to make it 3-0 to the visitors. Jose was on the touchline looking like 2010 happened a century ago. For the first time in his managerial career, Mourinho’s team was trailing by three goals at halftime of a league game. And do you want to hear something that’s not at all surprising? Sure. There was no coming back for the former Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Porto and Inter coach. Roma have conceded 3+ goals in the first half of a Serie A game just three times since the start of the 2016/17 season: ◎ 2018: Atalanta: ⚽️⚽️⚽️◎ 2020: Sassuolo: ⚽️⚽️⚽️◉ 2021: Inter: ⚽️⚽️⚽️ Jose Mourinho is disgusted. pic.twitter.com/3w6kLkS1kD— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 4, 2021 Inter win and keep the pace up with Napoli and Milan. And Roma remain fifth in the standings with even fourth, the place that brings qualification for next season’s Champions League, looking increasingly unattainable.SERIE 1 – ROUND 16SaturdayMilan – Salernitana 2-0 (2-0)/Kessie 5, Saelemaekers 18/Roma – Inter 0-3 (0-3)/Calhanoglu 15, Dzeko 24, Dumfries 39/22:45: (2.60) Napoli (3.40) Atalanta (2.85)Sunday14:30: (2.90) Bologna (3.30) Fiorentina (2.60)17:00: (3.40) Spezia (3.60) Sassuolo (2.20)17:00: (3.45) Venezia (3.40) Verona (2.25)20:00: (3.45) Sampdoria (3.50) Lazio (2.20)22:45: (1.27) Juventus (6.00) Genoa (14.0)Monday20:30: (2.65) Empoli (3.30) Udinese (2.85)22:45: (3.40) Cagliari (3.25) Torino (2.35)***odds are subject to change***
