Sometimes, it can be pretty simple to understand why great players get paid big bucks. Inter Milan traveled to Roma, got pummelled for more than an hour -- they went a goal down and could have been several more in arrears as the hosts hit the woodwork three times -- before Mauro Icardi struck twice in 10 minutes. It may be a team sport and you can game plan all you like, but there's no antidote to a consummate goal-scorer pouncing on an opponent's mistake or creating magic. And that's what Icardi did on Saturday night.
Relative to last year, there's work to be done for Inter. The squad is too big in some areas and not good enough in others. Luciano Spalletti is a very good manager, but he saw his team put to the sword for much of the game by his former club. But there is talent around which to build and that starts with Icardi, who seems happy and motivated and less loopy (for now, anyway) than in previous years.
As for Roma, despite the late collapse, this was a much better performance than on opening day when they won at Atalanta. For Eusebio Di Francesco's system to work, he needs real full-backs. Aleksandar Kolarov is technically gifted and can do it in some games but they'll need something different (read: quicker, i.e. Emerson Palmieri) in others.
And, on the right, things will get better when Bruno Peres or Alessandro Florenzi are at their free-flowing best. The worst scenario for Roma now is an irrational reaction to this defeat.
To read more of Marcotti's thoughts on what happened over the previous week, click here.