Fresh off a club record setting 97-point scudetto winning campaign, a Roberto Mancini led Internazionale side started the 2007-08 Serie A campaign with hopes of domestic and continental glory.
With a star-studded squad, the Nerazzurri continued on their tremendous form from the previous campaign. Heading into week fourteen match against Fiorentina team had only lost once dating back to September 2006.
Hosting Inter at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, were a Fiorentina who were off to a strong start of their own and had only lost once. The Viola had signed former Inter star striker Christian Vieri on free transfer in the off-season from Atalanta after losing Luca Toni to Bayern Munich.
Under the leadership of Cesare Prandelli that season, Fiorentina had proven themselves to be formidable and unpredictable. They either scored a lot and dominated their opponents or struggle to keep a clean sheet.
Roberto Mancini’s starting line-up had Julio Cesar in goal with defensive line of Christian Chivu, Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti and Ivan Cordoba. A midfield consisting of Esteban Cambiasso, Olivier Dacourt, Maicon, Luis Jimenez and the attacking duo of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Julio Cruz up front.
Cesare Prandelli’s viola side, had Sebastien Frey in goal with defensive line of Alessandro Gamberini, Tomas Ujfalusi, Alessandro Potenza and Manuel Pasqual. Midfielders were Fabio Liverani, Marco Donadel, Franco Semioli and Zdravko Kuzmanovic. Attacking duo for the match were Adrian Mutu and Giampaolo Pazzini.
The fans at the Stadio Artemio Franchi were in for a treat, as both sides came out attackinging. Viola tried to spread the ball wide and cross into the penalty box for target man Pazzini with Adrian Mutu lingering around the box for rebound opportunities.
The Nerazzurri’s attack was more direct and through the middle with Ibrahimovic being the focal point. The multi-faceted Swede posing a threat in all aspects of the game, often got double team from Fiorentina defenders around the penalty box, which allowed Julio Cruz and midfielders to run into the box for scoring opportunities.
Luis Jimenez opened the scoring for Inter ten minutes into the match, following a counter-attack where Zlatan faced a double team from defenders and held the ball at the edge of the box, allowing Jimenez to make a run into the box for a far post finish.
Playing catch-up earlier on, Cesare Prandelli’s side switched their attacking approach and went from attack from the wings to playing through the middle to allow quick passing sequence between Mutu and Pazzini to develop. As Fiorentina committed more men forward seeking an equalizing goal, Nerazzurri were getting counter-attack opportunities on the other end for both strikers.
Ibrahimovic, after assisting the first goal, had multiple superb attempts saved brilliantly by Frey. The dynamic duo of Ibrahimovic and Julio Cruz could not be kept off the score sheet for long, as Julio Cruz added a second goal for Inter following a quick passing sequence through the middle with Ibrahimovic holding up play and drawing Fiorentina double-team on defense to open up Cruz.
Failing to get any offense going in first half, Prandelli brought on Serie A veteran and former Inter star man Christian Vieri to replace Pazzini in second half. Vieri made an immediate impact for Viola, using his experience to getting open inside the penalty box to find heading opportunities.
While down the other end, Ibra’s magic continued and tormenting Fiorentina defenses. Having created two goals in first half due to double-team defense, Viola now were playing man-to-man defense which allowed more space for the Swede to exploit.
Sebastien Frey and Julio Cesar were both in fantastic form, putting on a show with one world class save after another, as game ended in favor of the visitors with Inter walking away from Florence with three points to continue their magical run in the league. Ibrahimovic was the man-of-the-match, assisting both goals and creating number of scoring opportunities, handing Fiorentina their second loss of the season.