Fresh from their first European win of the season, Inter resume their title-defending Serie A campaign on Sunday against rock-bottom Fiorentina. Sitting on opposite sides of the league table, the hosts will look to maintain their momentum, while the visitors seek a much-needed turnaround.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Inter snatched a precious 1-0 home win over Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek Champions League action. It was a vital triumph for Cristian Chivu’s men after back-to-back losses to Real Madrid and Club Brugge, bolstering their chances of reaching the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, they’ve reigned supreme at the start of their Scudetto defense. Except for a hard-earned 2-2 draw at Roma just before the international break, the reigning champions have won their remaining six league fixtures, including a come-from-behind 3-1 victory at Bologna last time out.
Fiorentina found themselves on the receiving end of the same scoreline at home to Como, suffering their fifth defeat in seven Serie A games this term (W1, D1). Despite their dreadful start to the season, Paolo Vanoli’s charges are level on points with 17th-placed Genoa heading into this round.
However, finding a way out of the bottom three could be easier said than done here, as they face the most formidable team in Italy.
Match Preview
Inter
Inter’s fighting spirit has been off the charts in 2026/27. They’ve secured ten of their 19 Serie A points from losing positions – the joint-highest tally by any team after their first seven Serie A games in the three-points-for-a-win era. Yet, there’s no room for complacency if they’re to cling on to the division’s summit, with second-placed Lazio lagging behind on goal difference alone.
Given Fiorentina’s underwhelming form in the early stages of the season, another win looks like a virtual certainty for Inter, who have won all four home league outings this term by an aggregate score of 15-6. Furthermore, the Nerazzurri have been firing on all cylinders at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, netting at least three goals in six of their last eight home league matches.
A quick-fire start could also be on the cards, as six of Inter’s seven Serie A games this season have produced the opening goal inside the first 15 minutes. If Inter break the deadlock, it would significantly increase their chances of another victory over Fiorentina, whom they’ve beaten in 13 of their last 21 top-flight meetings (D6, L2), including a dominant 3-0 win in this corresponding fixture last season.
Fiorentina
Meazza has never been a happy hunting ground for Fiorentina. They have lost their last three away league clashes against Inter and could suffer four such defeats on the trot for the first time since their dismal run between 2001 and 2013. Unfortunately for the traveling fans, that’s a distinct possibility for Serie A’s most vulnerable defense.
Vanoli’s men have conceded a whopping 17 league goals this term, and even though their only win came on the road against Venezia, their porous backline has capitulated multiple times across all three Serie A trips so far. In fact, the visitors have conceded a league goal for every five shots faced – the worst ratio in Italy’s elite club competition after seven matchdays.
Unless Vanoli miraculously fixes Fiorentina’s defensive woes, La Viola could lose six of their opening eight Serie A matches for the first time in the club’s history. Moreover, Fiorentina’s notoriously weak first-half performances have seen them trail at halftime in the division-high five games this season, a trend they will be desperate to buck on Sunday.
Team News
Underperforming wingback Luis Henrique suffered a muscle strain against Shakhtar and will join John Stones, Curtis Jones, and Benjamin Pavard in the treatment room. With Lautaro Martinez also on the sidelines, Francesco Pio Esposito is likely to partner up with Marcus Thuram in attack, probably at the expense of Ange-Yoan Bonny, who flopped on Wednesday.
Fiorentina will arrive at Meazza without Fabiano Parisi and Riccardo Sottil, while Arthur Atta and Luca Ranieri are both facing a race against time to put themselves at Vanoli’s disposal. With Ranieri injured, Marin Pongracic should line up alongside Radu Dragusin at the heart of the visitors’ defense, while Mateo Pellegrino could get the nod in attack ahead of Beto.
Inter vs Fiorentina Potential Starting Lineups
Inter (3-5-2): J. Martinez; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito.
Fiorentina (4-3-2-1): De Gea; Jimenez, Dragusin, Pongracic, Viery; Ndour, Fagioli, Oulai; Mastantuono, Njie; Pellegrino.
Inter vs Fiorentina Prediction
Expecting Fiorentina to upset the most consistent Serie A team on their home turf would be wishful thinking. Inter are head and shoulders above the rest of the league and should maintain their near-flawless domestic campaign with another emphatic win.
Prediction: Inter to Win
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The post Serie A Preview: Inter vs Fiorentina – Team News, Lineups & Prediction appeared first on The Cult of Calcio.
