Inter surrenders. Goodbye five consecutive victories, goodbye to the (already very few) hopes of third place. All for the benefit of a great Fiorentina, capable of breaking down the taboo of the Nerazzurri San Siro, which saw them defeated for 16 years and 13 games. This time, however, Montella's men managed to take the full booty, thus relaunching their candidacy for the Champions League zone with conviction and authority, now only 3 points after the defeat of Napoli in Turin. On the other hand, nothing to do for Inter, despite a final siege also due to the Viola's double numerical inferiority, forced to close in 9 due to the injuries (after the substitutions were finished) of Tomovic and Savic. The Nerazzurri tried but in the end they had to surrender to a stronger team, not so much in terms of men as in organisation.
“We knew their strength, they have been playing together for a long time – sighed Mancini. – But we did what we had to, the only flaw was the tiredness but I can't reproach anything. There were opportunities to equalize and I believe that, if we had scored, we could have won." In terms of scoring, it is difficult to contradict the Nerazzurri coach. His team has actually created a lot, albeit with the usual frenzy that distinguishes it.
Fiorentina's maneuver was more reasoned, enhanced by the "usual" Salah, with their fourth Italian goal in just over a month. “There is great satisfaction, we won against a healthy Inter – Montella said. – It was a deserved victory, I think my team created something more than their opponents. And then the last few minutes, also children of my mistake, were really very long but the boys showed a great heart".
The match between Inter and Fiorentina has given surprises right from the reading of the formations. Out Ranocchia and Shaqiri by virtue of Vidic and Kovacic the moves of Mancini, Babacar in place of Salah the response of Montella. In the first half, it was the Viola who were preferred: the maneuver was more harmonious, daughter of a tiki taca on which the coach has been working for three seasons, albeit a little sterile. Because then, on balance, the best goal is Inter with Guarin, in an action photocopy of the one that, last Thursday, had allowed them to beat Celtic. This time, however, the Colombian's right foot hits the post, to the desperation of Mancini and the entire San Siro.
At the end of the first half an injury knocked out Babacar and Montella dusted off Salah from the bench. A move as involuntary as it was decisive, because in the 55th minute the Egyptian former Chelsea player punished Handanovic with a close-range tap. The goal shakes Inter who try in every way to get back on their feet, also thanks to Mancini's substitutions. The coach reviews his initial choices by removing the impalpable Podolski and Kovacic for Shaqiri and Palacio. The move worked: in the 72nd minute the Swiss put Icardi in front of goal, the Argentine wasted. In general, the former Bayern player seems very inspired, so much so that one really wonders why he didn't play from the start.
The finale was heart-pounding: with the substitutions finished Tomovic and Savic raised the white flag, Fiorentina were forced to finish with 9 players. Inter besieged until the 96th minute, however producing only one real goal with Palacio, stopped in a great way by the revived Neto. It's the last sigh of a beautiful and exciting match, won with heart and head by Fiorentina. For the Nerazzurri maturity, however, please review soon: the road, although right, is still long.
