Inter 2–1 Fiorentina: match recap

Match recap

Inter overwhelmed Fiorentina with a relentless 33-shot barrage, yet needed a late penalty from substitute Piotr Zieliński to escape with a 2-1 win. Marcus Thuram's early strike and a towering model share (95-5) told the real story of total dominance, but wasteful finishing kept the Viola alive until the final whistle.

Inter started at a furious tempo, and Marcus Thuram punished a hesitant Fiorentina backline in the 11th minute, latching onto a through ball and finishing low past David de Gea. The home side piled on 33 shots to 7, with 11 on target, but de Gea made several sharp saves to keep Fiorentina in the contest. Against the run of play, Álex Jiménez equalized just before the hour, heading home Nicolò Fagioli's free kick after a rare defensive lapse from the Inter backline. Inter's pressure never relented, and in the 81st minute, a handball in the box gave Zieliński the chance to convert from the spot — he sent de Gea the wrong way to secure the points.

Key factors

• Fiorentina's disciplined defensive structure held for long spells, but they committed 14 fouls and conceded a costly penalty, while their own attacking output was limited to 2 shots on target.

The Analyst's take

Inter's 95% model share and 33-7 shot disparity underscore a performance that should have been settled long before stoppage time. The finishing — particularly from Thuram and the wide players — needs sharpening if they aim to challenge for the title, but the underlying creation is elite. Fiorentina will rue a passive display that yielded only 2 shots on target and 14 fouls; their survival in the game owed everything to de Gea and little else.