Italian champions Napoli stumbled at Bologna on Sunday, losing 2-0 and surrendering the Serie A lead to Inter Milan, who defeated Lazio by the same scoreline.
Roma, who beat Udinese 2-0 earlier, briefly held the top spot, only for Inter to overtake them on goal difference.
Just three minutes into the game, Lautaro Martinez put Inter ahead, with Ange-Yoan Bonny doubling the lead on the hour mark with a close-range shot.
Piotr Zielinski thought he had scored Inter’s third, but his effort was overturned by VAR.
Goals in the capital on either side of halftime by Lorenzo Pellegrini and Zeki Celik sent Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma temporarily to the top of the table with 24 points after 11 matches.
The breakthrough for Roma came when Hassane Kamara conceded a penalty after handling in the Udinese box.
Pellegrini stepped up in the 42nd minute to send Maduka Okoye the wrong way.
The Romans secured the crucial three points one minute after the hour mark, as Celik finished from Gianluca Mancini’s cut-back.
Udinese had chances to get back into the match in the final 20 minutes, but Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar stood strong to deny first Nicolo Zaniolo, then Vakoun Issouf Bayo.
Earlier, Napoli failed to capitalize on AC Milan’s slip against Parma on Saturday when they were held 2-2 after leading by two goals, as they faltered at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
After a scoreless first half, Napoli were caught off-guard five minutes after the break by a precise shot from Thijs Dallinga following a magnificent cross from the left by Nicolo Cambiaghi.
In the 66th minute, Bologna sealed the win. This time the danger came from the right: a cross and a header by Jhon Lucumi into Napoli’s top right corner.
Bologna moved to fifth, just one point behind fourth-placed Napoli.
In other matches, Sassuolo defeated Atalanta 3-0, and struggling Genoa were held 2-2 by last-placed Fiorentina.
