Nainggolan's brilliant brace fires Roma past Inter
Radja Nainggolan's glorious double helped Roma to a 3-1 win against Inter at San Siro as it moved back within seven points of Juventus at the top of Serie A.
Juve had been enjoying an excellent weekend - beating Empoli as Napoli lost to Atalanta on Sunday (AEDT) - but Nainggolan was influential in keeping Roma's faint title hopes alive.
The three points were no more than the visitor deserved on Monday, having dominated a pulsating opening period that saw the midfielder score his first with a fine 12th-minute effort.
Inter had won its previous eight home league matches, but it took too long to get going against an energetic Roma outfit and ultimately paid the price as its attempts to equalise came up short.
Instead, Nainggolan added a superb second 11 minutes after the restart to cap an outstanding individual performance.
And although the host was handed a lifeline by Mauro Icardi's 81st-minute goal, Diego Perotti's penalty four minutes later sealed Roma's victory.
The loss leaves Stefano Pioli's side in sixth - now just a point clear of rival AC Milan and six adrift of the UEFA Champions League places.
