Inter miss opportunity to top Serie A after 3-0 defeat to Fiorentina

Champions Inter Milan missed a golden opportunity to reclaim the top spot in the Serie A standings after suffering a humbling 3-0 defeat to Fiorentina in a rescheduled fixture on Thursday. The match, initially postponed after Fiorentina's Edoardo Bove collapsed on the pitch in December, resumed from the 17th minute with a throw-in for the hosts. What followed was a night of frustration for Simone Inzaghi's men, who found themselves outplayed, outclassed, and ultimately undone by a clinical Fiorentina side spearheaded by the brilliance of Moise Kean. His brace, coupled with a superb strike from Ranieri, condemned Inter to their first league defeat in 17 games, leaving them three points adrift of league leaders Napoli while propelling Fiorentina into the top four on goal difference.

From the onset, it was clear that Fiorentina were determined to make the most of their second chance. Despite Inter’s early dominance, which saw goalkeeper David de Gea forced into a crucial save from Lautaro Martinez and Carlos Augusto having a goal ruled out for offside, Fiorentina grew into the game and fashioned the two best opportunities of the first half. Kean, leading the line with confidence, was at the heart of both moments. The Italian forward nearly broke the deadlock when he latched onto a pinpoint cross from Fabiano Parisi, sending a powerful downward header goalwards, only to be denied by an instinctive foot save from Inter shot-stopper Yann Sommer. Minutes later, Kean showcased his versatility by turning provider, threading a sublime pass to Dodo, who surged into the box but failed to apply the finishing touch, dragging his shot agonizingly wide of the far post. With neither side able to capitalize, the contest remained evenly poised heading into the break.

Inter, renowned for their attacking prowess, struggled to find a breakthrough in the second half, as Fiorentina continued to defend resolutely while posing a persistent threat on the counter. The breakthrough finally came in the 59th minute, and it was a moment of sheer determination and opportunism from Fiorentina’s Ranieri. The defender, timing his run to perfection, arrived from deep to pounce on a loose ball from a corner, beating Davide Frattesi to the punch before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner past Sommer. The goal sent the home crowd into raptures and knocked the wind out of Inter’s sails, with Inzaghi’s side failing to muster an immediate response.

Sensing their advantage, Fiorentina pressed on, and just nine minutes later, they doubled their lead in emphatic fashion. This time, it was Dodo who turned creator, whipping in a tantalizing cross from the right flank. Kean, ever the poacher, outmaneuvered his marker with a subtle movement before directing a bullet header past the helpless Sommer. The goal was a testament to Kean’s lethal finishing ability and further compounded Inter’s misery. Despite making a trio of substitutions—introducing Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco, and Marko Arnautovic—Inter remained toothless in attack, struggling to break down Fiorentina’s disciplined defensive setup.

As the clock ticked down, desperation crept into Inter’s play, with their best effort coming from Dimarco, who audaciously attempted to lob De Gea from distance. However, the Spanish goalkeeper was equal to the challenge, backpedaling swiftly to claim the ball with ease. With each passing minute, the likelihood of a miraculous Inter comeback diminished, and their fate was sealed in the 89th minute in the most calamitous of ways. In what can only be described as a defensive disaster, Dimarco, under minimal pressure, played an ill-advised backpass without looking. The ball fell straight to Kean, who needed no second invitation to pounce. With Sommer stranded in no-man’s land, the Fiorentina striker calmly slotted the ball into an empty net, notching his 15th league goal of the season and putting the final nail in Inter’s coffin.

The final whistle blew, marking a resounding victory for Fiorentina and a night of bitter disappointment for Inter Milan. Their unbeaten run in the league had come to an abrupt end, and their hopes of reclaiming the top spot were now in jeopardy. For Fiorentina, this triumph not only bolstered their position in the Champions League race but also served as a statement of intent to the rest of the league. The Viola had proven that they could go toe-to-toe with the best and emerge victorious.

In the aftermath of the match, Inter manager Simone Inzaghi admitted that his side had been second-best in every department. "We never really got going tonight," he confessed. "Fiorentina played with more intensity, more hunger, and we struggled to impose ourselves. It’s a painful defeat, but we have to regroup quickly because we have another big game ahead of us." His words were echoed by Lautaro Martinez, who acknowledged the team’s shortcomings. "We weren’t sharp enough in front of goal, and we allowed them too much space," he lamented. "We have to take responsibility and bounce back immediately."

Meanwhile, Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Italiano was full of praise for his players, singling out Kean for his match-winning performance. "Moise was fantastic tonight—his movement, his finishing, and his overall work rate were exceptional," Italiano remarked. "This was a complete team performance, and I couldn’t be prouder." Kean himself expressed his delight at scoring twice in such an important fixture. "It’s a special night for me and for the team," he beamed. "We knew we had to be at our best, and I’m happy that I could contribute. We fought for every ball, and this win means a lot to us."

With the dust settling on this thrilling encounter, attention now turns to the reverse fixture, which takes place on Monday at the San Siro. For Inter Milan, it represents an immediate opportunity to exact revenge and restore their title challenge. For Fiorentina, it is a chance to prove that this victory was no fluke and that they are genuine contenders for a top-four finish. One thing is certain: the rematch promises to be another pulsating battle, with both teams eager to leave their mark.