Inter Milan hosted Fiorentina at the San Siro tonight in a clash between two sides unbeaten in Serie A after a strong start to the campaign.
Fiorentina shaded a tight first half and took the lead after the break from the penalty spot, with Giuseppe Rossi tucking home for his sixth goal of the season in all competitions.
La Viola's lead was shortlived though as Inter responded to level acrobatically through Esteban Cambiasso, before Jonathan smashed home what proved to be the winning goal six minutes from time.
Look back on a huge win for Walter Mazzarri's side with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening Calcio fans. A fantastic midweek round of Serie A action concludes tonight at the San Siro, with in-form Inter Milan hosting unbeaten Fiorentina. Can two of Italy's heavyweights add to the 30+ goals we've already seen in the last 48 hours? We will find out shortly.
Inter come into the clash showing genuine signs of recovery under new coach Walter Mazzarri, following a club-record 7-0 away win at Sassuolo on Sunday. Mazzarri is yet to taste defeat at the Nerazzurri and has the likes of Diego Milito fit and firing after a lengthy absence.
Former Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni was crippled by injuries towards the end of the last season, in a poor run which pretty much sealed his fate. Mazzarri raised a few eyebrows when he left Napoli for the San Siro in June but has made a bright start, winning three of his first four and bringing some much-needed stability to the side.
Speaking of bright starts, Fiorentina have also begun the campaign in quietly impressive fashion. Vincenzo Montella's men have picked up where they left off last season with an exciting brand of attacking football, based on possession and precise passing. La Viola are desperate to earn Champions League qualification this season and look capable of sustaining a challenge for the top three on current form.
Fiorentina have been free-scoring so far this season, thanks primarily to the form of Giuseppe Rossi. The former Manchester United finally looks free of knee injuries and is rediscovering his clinical touch in the final third, scoring five times in all competitions early in the campaign.
Montella's plans have been threatened by injuries in the last few weeks, with German striker Mario Gomez sidelined by a knee ligament tear. Juan Cuadrado is also out for at least a month after dislocating his shoulder, forcing Montella to rotate his squad more than he would have liked early in the campaign. La Viola have infact used 23 players already this season in six matches!
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! We have just received news on the starting XI's in Milan and a chance for Joaquin Sanchez, with the former Spanish international playing in an advanced role for Fiorentina tonight. A full look at both teams will follow in just a few moments.
INTER! Handanovic, Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus; Jonathan, Guarin, Cambiasso, Taider, Nagatomo; Alvarez; Palacio
FIORENTINA! Neto; Tomovic, Rodriguez, Savic, Pasqual; Borja Valero, Ambrosini, Aquilani; Joaquin, Mati Fernandez; Rossi
Joaquin's inclusion for Fiorentina is the only change from the side which beat Atalanta BC 2-0 last weekend. The winger comes in for Polish youngster Rafal Wolski, while David Pizarro misses the chance to face his former club through suspension.
Inter unsurprisingly name the same starting XI which put seven past Sassuolo on Sunday, with Mazzarri resisting the temptation to recall Diego Milito following his comeback brace from the bench in that win. Rodrigo Palacio continues in a lone front role for the hosts tonight, with Ricky Alvarez playing just off the striker in a role which has brought success in recent weeks.
A win tonight for either side would send out a real statement of intent, with the victor moving level with Juventus and Napoli in second place. Roma have put down a marker with five successive victories, but both teams can prove that they are right in the mix with a positive result against a direct rival at the top this evening!
PREDICTION! I expect both sides to attack this match and create an entertaining clash, with Fiorentina perhaps shading possession while Inter look to counter. I think Inter's confidence is sky-high going into this game and can ride that spirit to secure a victory, with Palacio on target in a 2-1 win. But in fairness La Viola's ambitious squad are also capable of prevailing in an evenly-matched contest.
Here come the two teams, in what looks like a San Siro which is about 3/4 full. Fiorentina have won seven successive away games, but Inter have beaten La Viola at the San Siro in 11 successive matches. Something has to give tonight in what could be a cracker!
Captains Cambiasso and Pasqual have exchanged pre-match pleasantries, we are just about ready to get underway!
Here we go then, with Fiorentina kicking off shooting from left to right, in a changed all-white strip.
Fiorentina start sloppily as Ambrosini gifts Alvarez possession from the kickoff, but luckily recovers to challenge and clear. Inter recycle possession and switch to Nagatomo, who forces Neto to hold with a low strike from 25 yards.
More like it from Fiorentina as Borja Valero drops deep to pick up the ball from Stefan Savic, before Aquilani's through ball is cut out by Juan.
Neto comes off his line to stop Guarin's curling cross from finding Palacio in the penalty area. Fiorentina then come upfield as Valero and Pasqual combine, but Cambiasso reads the danger to cover in a trademark interception.
Nagatomo takes on Tomovic but leaves the ball behind in a moment of madness out wide, before Alvarez picks up the pieces. A neat turn inside sees the forward find space, but his cross it cut out by Joaquin, who had tracked back to cover the near post.
Joaquin is put through one-on-one with the full-back by a neat pass from Rossi, but decides to cut inside and look for a pass. The chance is quickly snuffed out by two covering defenders, with Ranocchia on hand to knock clear.
This match is wide open as Campagnaro flies down the flank for Inter, with his cutback cleared as Fiorentina break with pace. Joaquin finds Rossi this time with a ball over the top. Rossi is forced wide but still gets a shot off, with his low effort turned wide by a dive from Handanovic.
A superb exchange between Aquilani and Joaquin nearly sets the midfielder free in the penalty area, with a flick just cut out by Juan. Inter then stride forward on the counter as Juan finds Guarin, who fires straight into the side netting instead of looking for a teammate in the penalty area.
Alvarez takes on two players out wide as Inter break again, but Savic comes across to snuff out the danger. Fiorentina are dominating possession but look open on the break, something Montella's men need to be careful of.
Palacio flashes a low cross into the penalty area but has absolutely no support in the final third, with Nagatomo and Taider unable to make up ground at the far post. Encouraging signs for both teams so far, but no clear-cut chances as of yet.
Ambrosini wins the ball cleanly from Alvarez in a sliding challenge but is penalised for a foul. The veteran remonstrates with the referee but it warned for what he sees as an over-zealous tackle.
Rossi and Joaquin combine again for La Viola as the Spaniard uses his pace to break clear. With time to weigh up an effort Joaquin smashes at goal, but his shot stays central enough for Handanovic to palm behind for a corner kick.
Valero flashes wide from range as Fiorentina continue a bright spell, with the visitors soon back on the attack as Pasqual wins a corner kick. Montella's side are playing the kind of neat, passing football that he encourages, but an awful corner kick goes out of play before reaching the penalty area.
WIDE! Joaquin gets clear again after racing onto a brilliant shift out wide from Valero. A dart inside presents the Spaniard with a chance to shoot, which he drills just inches beyond the far post. Fiorentina are getting closer!
Campagnaro forages forward for Inter and not for the first time tonight. His hard work helps present Guarin with a chance to cross in space, but the midfielder's delivery fails to beat the first defender.
Fiorentina establish another prolonged spell of possession which is broken up when Juan reads Aquilani's short pass. His attempt to stride out of defence and find Jonathan looks promising, but an untimely slip stops the attack in it's tracks. Inter have looked dangerous on the break, but those moments are too irregular for Mazzarri to be pleased right now.
Pasqual's speculative strike from 25 yards taken a deflection off Jonathan to give Fiorentina a corner kick, which the visitors squander. Then at the other end the Fiorentina skipper pulls up abruptly with what looks like a hamstring problem, after winning the ball back in midfield.
SUBSTITUTION: Pasqual is indeed unable to continue and gets swiftly replaced, with the former Bolton utility man Marcos Alonso brought on as a replacement.
Alvarez catches Valero in possession and bursts into the penalty area. The forward looks up and sets himself to pass across goal, but Gonzalo's superb last-ditch block scuppers those plans. Both sides are just one killer pass away from breaking the deadlock at this stage.
Fiorentina win a rather generous free kick 25 yards from goal as Nagatomo is judged to have tripped Nagatomo just outside the penalty area. Valero takes but sees his cross headed away by Palacio, as Inter break quickly through Taider.
An important spot by Joaquin stops Jonathan collecting Cambiasso's clever diagonal towards the far post as this time Inter press forward. Clever feet from Alvarez then sees the forward glide clear out wide and find Jonathan, who takes too long to make his mind up and gets crowded out.
YELLOW CARD! Ranocchia cynically brings down Joaquin on the halfway line to take away any chance of the forward using his pace to burst clear. That challenge results in a caution for the defender on his 100th appearance in Serie A.
HALF-TIME Inter 0-0 Fiorentina
A cagey opening with plenty of attractive football at the San Siro, coming mainly from Fiorentina. Inter look lively on the counter but as of yet this clash between in-form sides has yet to see the deadlock broken.
La Viola have dictated play from the outset, with Aquilani and Borja Valero pulling the strings in midfield. Joaquin's pace has made the visitors a prominent threat in the final third, but they have not been able to provide the in-form Rossi with effective service as of yet.
Inter have shown flashes of quality, particularly with Alvarez threatening, but once again the story has been a lack of cutting edge in the final third. Mazzarri's men have looked likely when Nagatomo and Jonathan have stayed wide to help stretch the match, but Palacio has been like Rossi as a frustrated figure in the final third.
At times the first half was alarmingly open, but neither side were able to profit. A reminder that if either side can force a winner in the second half they will move level with Juventus or Napoli in second place in Serie A.
BENCH WATCH! If the scoreline remains blank expect both managers to look for changes in the second half. Inter boss Mazzarri could call upon Mauro Icardi, who scored with his first touch after coming on against Juventus earlier this month. Fiorentina meanwhile have Polish youngster Wolfski in reserve, who started against Atalanta last weekend.
Both teams are back out at the San Siro as Inter get the second half underway, but quickly lose possession.
Rossi helps a long ball on towards Handanovic with a tame header, forcing the goalkeeper into his first action of the half in a comfortable save. La Viola need to their top scorer much more involved in this period to emerge victorious.
YELLOW CARD! Ambrosini picks up a booking after standing directly in the path of Palacio as he attempted to run forward. The former Milan captain's caution is greeted with a warm round of applause from the home crowd, who still remember his allegiance to the Rossoneri.
Successive corners for Inter as Neto gets across to stop Guarin's sweetly-struck drive from distance, which had whip and pace. As Fiorentina clear their lines the Colombian tries to repeat the trick, but his second effort clears the crossbar quickly.
Joaquin looks to get in behind Juan as Fiorentina come forward through Aquilani, who instead switches play. Inter win back possession and attempt to come forward through Palacio, who drifts out wide but is quickly crowded out.
PENALTY TO FIORENTINA! After taking his time the referee awards La Viola a spot kick, as Juan pushes Joaquin down in the box.
GOAL! Inter 0-1 Fiorentina (Rossi)
Rossi takes a short run-up and makes no mistake with an assured spot kick, beating Handanovic to score his sixth goal of the season and break the deadlock. Handanovic beats the turf in frustration and could have got a hand to that effort, as he is beaten for only the second time this season.
Inter react to conceding by making an instant change Kovacic coming on in midfielder for Taider. The hosts will now be forced to press and look for an equaliser, playing into Fiorentina's hands as they look for a counter similar to the one that created Rossi's chance from the spot.
Nagatomo shows some intent down the left for Inter, but once again his final bass is a disappointment. Guarin then switches to Alvarez as he quickly flicks to Jonathan in space. His superb ball into the six-yard box deserves a striker on the end of it, but only gets Savic as he smashes clear.
SUBSTITUTION: Inter make their second change as Guarin is replaced by Icardi in a positive move which should see the hosts switch to two up front. Guarin sends a sarcastic wave to the ground as they jeer his performance, a move which is sure to anger Inter's ultras in the long-term.
SUBSTITUTION: Fiorentina also take the chance to introduce fresh legs in the final third, with the goalscorer Rossi swapped for summer signing Josip Ilicic.
YELLOW CARD! Nagatomo jumps into a silly challenge on Rodriquez and gets a booking for his troubles. I make that three of Inter's back five to be cautioned tonight.
GOAL! Inter 1-1 Fiorentina (Cambiasso)
Cambiasso has made the most of a goalmouth scramble to level the scores. Fiorentina failed to clear their lines as Neto came without claiming. Campagnaro kept the ball alive and helped onto Cambiasso, who turned acrobatically before smashing home at the near post. Game on at the San Siro and we are all square!
YELLOW CARD! Campagnaro goes into the book after raising his studs in a late challenge. The defender is unlucky after making little contact but the intent was enough for the defender to become the fifth player to be booked.
SUBSTITUTION: Montella decides to make a final swap in midfield after seeing Fiorentina get ragged in the last five minutes. Aquilani has been replaced by Uruguayan Vecino, who makes his Serie A debut as we head towards the closing stages.
More like it from Fiorentina as Tomovic gets to the byline, cutting back in search of Joaquin. The forward is ready to smash towards goal from close range but Campagnaro just slides in to clear, with Alonso turning wide on the follow-up.
CHANCE! A glit-edged opportunity for Ilicic as gets played in around 12 yards from goal in open space. The forward strikes first-time with power but shoots straight at Handanovic, with Vecino deciding to take a touch rather than shoot from the rebound. That could easily have been a winner there for La Viola as the match stays open!
GOAL! Inter 2-1 Fiorentina (Jonathan)
How the visitors have been made to pay for that miss from Ilicic as Jonathan smashes into the top corner at the other end. The Brazilian got lucky as his first touch on Alvarez's cross bounced up invitingly, but made no mistake with a fierce strike. Inter have come from behind to lead with six minutes left to play!
SUBSTITUTION: Jonathan is immediately withdraw after blasting in what could well prove to be the winner. Mazzarri opts to protect what they have as Alvaro Pereira comes on for his first appearance in Serie A this season.
Inter should have just put this game to bed as they clear from a corner kick quickly, with Pereira given the freedom of the opposition half to run into. Palacio is desperate for the ball to be played square but the full-back is not interested, hammering a strike at goal which Neto tips over the crossbar.
Three minutes of added time at the San Siro, as Fiorentina probe through Ilicic.
The visitors throw bodies forward as the ball drops to Ambrosini in the box, but his effort is held by Handanovic. That should just about do it.
FULL-TIME Inter 2-1 Fiorentina
Well that was quite a second half at the San Siro, with Fiorentina breaking the deadlock only to collapse late on. Two quick strikes from Inter mean that Mazzarri's men stay unbeaten in a brilliant start to the season, while La Viola are left to lick their wounds after a first defeat of the campaign.
That victory sees Inter move level with Juventus and Napoli on 13 points after five games, with Roma still top as four teams remain unbeaten in Serie A. If Mazzarri's men maintain the hunger they showed tonight there is plenty to be positive about for Nerazzurri fans.
After a wonderful midweek featuring 35 goals across 10 matches it's time to pause for breath in Serie A. Thanks for joining us tonight and be sure to return this weekend for comprehensive coverage from Italy and across the continent. Goodnight!
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
