Tonight Inter head to the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence to face Fiorentina in the Serie A, with kick-off scheduled for 20.45 CET.
Inter are still flying solo at the top of the table, 2 points clear of Juventus, whereas tonight’s opponents sit in 13th place, somewhat lower than there fans would hope to be. Past meeting between the two clubs has seen Inter take 19 wins over Fiorentina’s 7, and 5 matches ending in a draw.
Attack
Inter are joint second for most goals scored in the league, with Lazio on 31 and behind Atalanta who are on 37. This is averaging at 2.87 goals per game which is higher than their average xG per game, which sits at 1.95. Lukaku remains Inter’s top scorer in Serie A on 10 goals, giving him the third place in the capocannoniere standings.
Fiorentina are 12th in the table for goals scored on 19 with an average of 1.27 per game. This is slightly lower than their average xG at 1.53. Considering how well they played earlier in the season, this shows how much they have dropped off and how much work needs done. Fiorentina’s top scorer in the league is new boy Erick Pulgar, who has been a revelation for the Viola this year and one of the bright lights in a dim environment.
Defense
Inter have conceded 13 goals so far, which is the lowest amount of any team. They also have the lowest xGA in the league too and average 0.88 per game. This is clearly where the teams strength lies, and on this foundation they can really build a fantastic team.
Fiorentina have conceded 23 goals this season, which puts them 13th but surprisingly they are 5th best for xGA with an average of 1.31. This seems to indicate that they are letting in goals that should otherwise be avoided, and perhaps a bit more structure and concentration can really see this side climb back up the table.
Key Players
Inter’s key man this week will be Marcelo Brozovic. Ever present has he been since day 1 of this season, and ever consistent. One thing Brozovic needs to work on is his body language during the matches, as he seems to drop his head whenever things dont go his or his team’s way, and can really affect the way the teams reacts to negativity.
Fiorentina’s key player is Erick Pulgar. Viola’s top scorer joined from Bologna in the summer and has been the Viola’s best player this season. Pulgar is a tough midfielder who can score goals, control the tempo and win important battles in the middle of the field and could be crucial for Fiorentina’s chances during this match.
Summary
This will be a tough match for Inter, as the Artemio Franchi is a tough place for any team to go and get a result. Fiorentina may be on a bad run of form lately, but don’t write them off completely for any chance to get a result tonight. Let’s hope this match provides as much entertainment as it promises.
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