Serie A Daily Report - 2026-09-05

Inter came from two goals down to beat Napoli 3-2 at San Siro on Saturday and preserve their perfect start to the Serie A season. Matteo Politano and Rasmus Højlund put Napoli 2-0 ahead early in the second half, but Lautaro Martínez quickly reduced the deficit before Marcus Thuram headed the equaliser with eight minutes remaining. Martínez then struck again in stoppage time after Napoli failed to clear a corner. The winning goal was his 134th for Inter, moving him above Stefano Nyers into third place in the club’s all-time scoring list. The result left Inter with three wins from three matches.

Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri said his side needed to improve after allowing Inter back into the contest. He acknowledged that Napoli could have scored again, but felt Inter’s ability to raise their level punished mistakes at crucial moments. The defeat followed a promising spell in which Napoli controlled much of the match and exposed weaknesses in Inter’s build-up. For Cristian Chivu’s team, the recovery strengthened their early title defence and underlined their capacity to win a high-pressure fixture even after losing control of the scoreline. Napoli, meanwhile, must respond quickly after suffering a second defeat in three league games.

Roma overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat Atalanta 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday and maintain their perfect Serie A start. Ederson gave Atalanta the lead early in the second half after Roma had dominated the opening period without converting their chances. The hosts continued to press, with Santiago Castro hitting the woodwork twice and goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi making important saves. Mario Hermoso finally levelled in the 89th minute, and Matías Soulé completed the turnaround in stoppage time. The victory kept Roma alongside Inter at the top of the table after three rounds, while Atalanta’s encouraging start ended in a damaging late defeat.

Roma’s persistence proved decisive after a match in which Atalanta spent long periods defending deep and relying on Carnesecchi. The late goals rewarded the home side’s sustained pressure and gave Gian Piero Gasperini a painful result against his former club. Roma had already scored eight times in their opening two victories, but this win carried a different significance: it showed they could recover from frustration and produce a result when their finishing had not matched their dominance. Atalanta now face the task of adapting to Maurizio Sarri’s methods while avoiding further lapses in concentration at the end of matches.

Torino came from behind to beat Fiorentina 2-1 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Saturday, leaving Fabio Grosso’s side without a point after three Serie A matches. Fiorentina took the lead through Mateo Pellegrino, but former midfielder Rolando Mandragora equalised after joining Torino on deadline day. Che Adams then scored the winner to give Torino their first points of the campaign. The result followed Fiorentina defeats by Roma and Frosinone, completing a disastrous opening run. Grosso accepted that his position could be vulnerable, saying the decision rested with those above him while he remained available to the club.

Torino’s victory was particularly significant for Mandragora, who scored against his former employers only days after completing his move. Manager Ignazio Abate praised the midfielder’s quality and leadership, describing him as an important addition to the centre of the pitch. The comeback also offered Torino evidence of the resilience Abate wants from his team after conceding first. Fiorentina, by contrast, have conceded nine goals across their first three fixtures and now face an early managerial question. Grosso’s response that he could only put himself at the club’s disposal reflected the seriousness of the situation.

Milan midfielder Luka Modrić will continue playing international football after confirming his availability for Croatia’s forthcoming Nations League campaign. The Croatian Football Federation said on Saturday that the veteran would be included for fixtures against Czechia, Spain and England. Modrić, who was set to turn 41, had been the subject of reports suggesting he might retire after the World Cup and the previous Serie A campaign. Instead, he committed to remain available for national-team selection while continuing with Milan during the 2026-27 season. The decision extended one of the longest international careers in modern European football and ensured Croatia retained an experienced option in midfield.

Modrić’s continued involvement gives Croatia leadership for a demanding Nations League schedule while Milan retain a player balancing club and international responsibilities. The federation said he had confirmed his decision to head coach Slaven Bilić and president Marijan Kustić. His presence also maintains a direct link between Milan’s Serie A campaign and Croatia’s competitive calendar, with the first international break arriving soon after the opening domestic fixtures. For Bilić, keeping a player with Modrić’s experience available offers continuity as Croatia prepare to face three significant opponents in the next phase of the competition.