Having dispatched Rapid Vienna in the Europa League with ease, a confident Inter travel to Florence to try and get their season back on track against the ever difficult Fiorentina. Match on Sunday at 20:30 CET.
Despite the Icardi drama being still in full-swing with no resolution in sight, the rest of the squad seem to have relished the fact that their ex-captain has taken the spotlight off them and off the pitch and have thus slowly strung together a run of decent results, seemingly putting their January woes behind them.
But in order to well and truly demonstrate to the rest of the league that the Inter of October 2018 is back, they must put in an impressive display against a very difficult host in Fiorentina.
Fiorentina seem to be on their best run of form this season and have pulled themselves back into Europa League spot contention. Their attacking prowess is on full display when their trio of the Luis Muriel, Federico Chiesa and Gerson are in flow state.
Ex-Inter coach Stefano Pioli also has at his disposal some dangerous firepower on the bench; Giovanni Simeone and Marco Pjaca are no slouches themselves and their presence gives the Italian manager some tactical flexibility his counterpart Luciano Spalletti cannot afford at the moment.
All things said, Inter’s defensive line must be confident in its ability to limit the Viola threat, and should they be able to do so, then
Team News
All signs seem to indicate that Mauro Icardi’s phantom knee menace is still affecting his ability to be called up for the match. Adding to Spaletti’s misery will be the fact that Keita Balde’s injury appears to still be troubling the Senegalese forward and it appears that he too will be forced to miss the match.
Probable Inter line-up (4-2-3-1): Handanovic (C); D’Ambrosio, DiVrij, Skriniar, Asamoah; Vecino, Brozovic; Perisic, Joao Mario, Politano; Lautaro
Stats
Last Season: Fiorentina 1 – 1 Inter.
Last 10 Head to Head: It’s almost perfectly balanced between both sides coming into this match. Fiorentina edge out Inter in the Head-to-head record with the slightest of margins having won five matches to Inter’s four wins.
Keep an Eye on
Ivan Perisic: It seems strangely coincidental that Icardi’s self-imposed exile from the squad has coincided with Perisic’s best for of the season so far. The Croatian winger has recently looked as motivated, hard-working and effective as he has ever looked in an Inter jersey. With a spectacular goal and an assist to his name in the Europa League, expect fireworks from the Croatian if he’s able to replicate that form.
Officials
Referee: Rosario Abisso.
Assistants: Passeri and Mondin.
Fourth Official: Pasqua.
VAR Assistants: Fabbri and Alassio.
Prediction & Concluding Remarks
Prediction & scorers: Fiorentina 1-2 Inter with Perisic and Brozovic both scoring.
Concluding remarks: Travelling to Florence is never a walk in the park, but if Inter play to their full potential and with the same belief and desire as shown against Sampdoria, it is not entirely impossible to return to Milano with all three points. Mentality and attitude will be key.