Fiorentina vs Inter: Reigning champs could face stern test
Inter will be looking to make it back to back wins in Serie A as they travel to face Fiorentina, but the Viola have found a new lease on life under new coach Vincenzo Italiano and will be also looking to pick up another victory as they aim to keep moving up the table.
The Nerazzurri come into this match having crushed Bologna 6-1, which was exactly the result Simone Inzaghi needed after a very bitter 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in Inter’s Champions League opener. That result in Serie A sees them rise back to second in the table, albeit two points behind current league leaders Napoli who are still flawless after four games. Given that the reigning champs will play first in this batch of midweek fixtures, they could move to top spot, albeit temporarily, before Napoli take to the pitch against Sampdoria on Thursday.
Fiorentina started off the season poorly, slumping to a 3-1 loss to Roma, but since then, it’s been onwards and upwards for the Viola. They now have won three matches on the spin, against Torino, Atalanta, and Genoa, whilst scoring six times and conceding just three. Young Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic is again in solid form, with three goals so far and showing the same kinds of performances that reportedly had many big teams, including Arsenal and Juventus, apparently interested in his signature this summer.
Although the Viola have not done well in this fixture – they haven’t beaten Inter in four years – they still may be fancying their chances at an upset. After all, Sampdoria managed to draw the reigning champs not too long ago, and given that Fiorentina are playing at home, they’ll look to use the support of the crowd to help see them past their toughest test yet. Indeed, so far, it’s been a brighter start than Gigliati supporters have seen, and not only have they won three games for the first time in nearly two years, but also it’s been six since they’ve been able to pick up nine points from their first four games.
Equally, though, as Fiorentina will face a tricky battle, the same could be said for Inter. While the 6-1 win was the tonic they needed after a rough week, this Fiorentina side aren’t the team of past years. That being said, the Nerazzurri were in imperious form against Bologna, and many of their new signings, including Edin Dzeko and Joaquin Correra are already showing that they’ve gelled with their new teammates. Dzeko especially has linked up very well with Lautaro Martinez, assuaging fears that Romelu Lukaku’s departure will leave them short up front. Both the Bosnian and Argentinian attackers have three goals each and both were on target during the 6-1 demolition of the Rossoblu last weekend.
That being said, Inter’s last draw did come on the road, and before that, they had to come from behind to beat Hellas Verona. Naturally, that’s something this newly improved Fiorentina side will keep in mind, but do they have enough to present more than just a stern test for the reigning Scudetto champs this Tuesday?
