Inter run out 2 - 0 winners in Florence

FLORENCE – In the recent past, things haven’t always gone Inter’s way in Florence. Particular situations have led to defeat, goals have been conceded late on and the Nerazzurri have had to settle for unexpected draws. During a moment like this, when matches are coming thick and fast and there are important objectives to achieve, it could have been another particularly difficult match. But this Inter side is a professional outfit, a strong and determined team. It took just 40 seconds to understand that they weren’t going to accept anything but victory this evening. And this is what they achieved. After Barella had opened the scoring with a magnificent strike, Perisic netted after the restart. However, many more players could have got on the scoresheet. Indeed, Dragowski limited the damage for a Fiorentina side that, without Ribery, Milenkovic and Castrovilli in their ranks, only looked threatening in the final stages of the first half. The Nerazzurri needed Handanovic to come to the rescue in that period, but, other than that, were never really troubled. In fact, they could and probably should have won by more. Following tonight's win, Antonio Conte’s men have moved up to 47 points in the league and currently sit in first place ahead of AC Milan’s match on Sunday.

This evening, Inter were looking to build on their Coppa Italia victory over the Viola last month, using what they learnt back then to inflict damage on their opponents. Antonio Conte, who was once again forced to watch the match from the stands, selected Sanchez alongside Lukaku up front, while Prandelli went with a 3-5-1-1 formation and instructed Eysseric to keep tabs on Brozovic. Borja Valero, meanwhile, was chosen to play in behind Vlahovic, who led the Viola line.

Inter started the match with the right attitude: Nicolò Barella, who would produce another excellent display, popped up in the area after just 40 seconds, but the Fiorentina defence scrambled clear. It was a sign that Inter meant business, and Conte’s men could have taken the lead a few minutes later: after Hakimi had centred the ball, it looked certain that Barella would score. However, Dragowski pulled off a miraculous stop to prevent the Italian from opening the scoring. While it was Terracciano who shined between the sticks in the Coppa Italia, this time the Polish shot-stopper would do his utmost to keep the Nerazzurri at bay.

After Inter’s quick start, Fiorentina gradually started to gain a foothold as they regularly picked out Biraghi on the left flank and looked to make the most of Martinez Quarta’s runs down the right. The Nerazzurri, however, continued to work diligently, with Sanchez looking threatening between the lines.

Nevertheless, a bit of spark was needed to open the scoring, and this is what Barella provided. After receiving the ball from Sanchez following a Nerazzurri corner, the Italian brilliantly curled the ball into the back of the net from outside the box with his right foot. Superbly struck, perfectly placed, Nicolò’s third goal of the current campaign.

Despite the setback, Fiorentina responded well and played their best football in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Bonaventura was looking particularly lively and drew an instinctive stop from Handanovic, who tipped his attempt onto the bar and then denied Biraghi on the rebound.

Inter were being forced to dig in and were helped on their way by some crucial interventions from Lukaku, who was certainly doing his bit in defence. At the other end, the Belgian striker had the final chance of the first half, heading over Sanchez’s cross.

Inter dominated the play in the second half. Hakimi and Perisic were devastating down the flanks, with incisive runs that spread the defenders apart. In the 52nd minute, the Nerazzurri doubled their lead: the ball was worked well by Barella and then by Sanchez, who released Hakimi down the right. The Moroccan’s run was simply too overwhelming for Igor, who couldn’t catch him, and his cross found Perisic alone in the centre of the box. The Croat had no difficulty slotting the ball in the net with his right foot for a well-deserved 2-0 lead.

Incredibly, the final result stayed this way. From the second goal onwards, it was all Inter, right up until the final minutes. Nerazzurri chances came aplenty, calling Dragowski into action on several occasions. Lukaku scored in the 55th minute, only for it to be cancelled out due to Perisic being offside in the build-up. Lukaku threatened again in the 63rd minute, with a right-footed shot that was deflected behind, and from the resulting corner a great left-footed effort by Perisic forced Dragowksi into another stop.

Chances to close out the match came in waves: a header by Gagliardini was kept out by the Polish goalkeeper, before Bastoni and Lautaro went close to scoring what would have been a well-deserved third goal. That did not arrive; with their substitutions, Fiorentina raised the pace and intensity in the final few minutes, placing themselves in the Inter half of the field but without ever threatening. Handanovic ended the second half with no saves of note.

Conte's team are now five unbeaten in the league and have momentarily climbed to the top of the table with 47 points, one more than AC Milan, who will take to the pitch at 15:00 CET on Sunday against Crotone. All energy and focus now shifts to the second leg of the Coppa Italia: on Tuesday, we'll once again take to the pitch, this time against Juventus in Turin. A great challenge awaits.

THE TABLE

MATCH SUMMARY

FIORENTINA (3-5-1-1): 69 Dragowski; 2 Martinez Quarta, 20 Pezzella, 98 Igor; 23 Venuti (25 Malcuit 74'), 5 Bonaventura, 34 Amrabat, 92 Eysseric (78 Pulgar 74'), 3 Biraghi; 6 Borja Valero (11 Kouame 46'); 9 Vlahovic (91 Kokorin 74'). Substitutes: 1 Terracciano, 21 Rosati, 14 Bianco, 24 Chiti, 27 Barreca, 28 Montiel, 67 Munteanu, 77 Callejon.Coach: Cesare Prandelli. 

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 6 de Vrij, 95 Bastoni; 2 Hakimi, 23 Barella, 77 Brozovic, 22 Vidal (5 Gagliardini 46'), 14 Perisic (36 Darmian 80'); 9 Lukaku (99 Pinamonti 89'), 7 Sanchez (10 Lautaro 62').Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 97 Radu, 11 Kolarov, 12 Sensi, 13 Ranocchia, 15 Young, 24 Eriksen, 33 D'Ambrosio.Coach: Cristian Stellini.

Goalscorers: 31' Barella (I), 52' Perisic (I)Bookings: Perisic (I), Amrabat (F), Martinez Quarta (F), Pulgar (F)Added time: 1' - 4'.

Referee: La Penna.Assistants: Preti, Galetto.Fourth Official: Pasqua.VAR: Mazzoleni.VAR Assistant: Vivenzi.

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