Inter open the matchweek with a tricky match against the ever threatening Fiorentina. Match today, Friday at 20:45CET.

Inter travel to Florence to face one of this season’s most disappointing sides; Fiorentina. Since his appointment in early November of last year, Cesare Prandelli has been unable to find a decent run of form for his players to go on. Fiorentina have only won thrice in the thirteen league matches since Prandelli’s appointment.

While technically not in a relegation battle (yet), Fiorentina’s results and performances so far this season have been extremely disappointing, and if the team can’t turn their fortunes around quickly, they might find themselves fighting for top flight presence.

Compounding the hosts’ misfortunes will the be absence of their top performers Gaetano Castrovilli and Nikola Milenkovic.

The pair have been the Viola’s star performers this season, and their absence might actually galvanize the rest of the team to really try and get something out of the game.

Inter might find themselves, yet again, in a position where they face opponents whose only aspiration is not to lose at any cost.

Inter struggle against sides that play “anti-football” such as Udinese a couple of weeks ago and Shakhtar Donest in the Champions League.

The return of Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi certainly bodes well for the visitors along with Antonio Conte’s seemingly renewed faith in Christian Eriksen.

Inter must go for all points here, especially seeing that their next two matches are against Lazio and arch-rivals AC Milan.

This will be a match where Conte must demonstrate to the world that he’s willing to learn from past mistakes, especially when managing a game against a weaker opponent who’s more interested in sitting back doing nothing.

Team News

Aside from the news (substantiated or otherwise) that Inter’s owners Suning are in financial free-fall and are on the brink of collapse; there is some good news coming out of Appiano relevant to the match at hand.

Santo Danilo D’Ambrosio has surprisingly recovered from his injury and will be available for selection.

Probable Line-up (3-5-2): Handanovic (C); Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Hakimi, Vidal, Brozovic, Barella, Young; Lautaro, Lukaku

Stats

Last Season: Fiorentina 1 – 1 Inter.

Last 10 Head to Head: Despite holding a commanding 4 – 2 lead over their hosts in the head to head record, Inter have not beaten the Viola in Florence since February of 2014.

Keep an Eye on:

Lautaro Martinez: Once again the Argentine is the talk of all Interisti. Lautaro has scored in each of his previous two games, so one would hope that he has broken his duck.

However, Lautaro seems to still miss far more chances than a player of his caliber should. Inter need their striker to find his best form as they jump into this string of very tough matches.

Officials

Referee: Federico La Penna.

Assistants: Preti and Galetto.

Fourth Official: Pasqua.

VAR: Mazzoleni and Vivenzi.

Prediction & Concluding Remarks

Prediction & scorers: Fiorentina 1 – 1 Inter with a Lautaro goal to give the visitors a single point.

Concluding remarks: No matter what happens, Inter seem unable to pick up all points at the Franchi. Inter might play a decent game, but history does not favor the visitors.

The fates always seem to conspire against the Nerazzurri on their trips to Florence.