Preview: Fiorentina vs Inter Milan – prediction, team news, lineups

Heading into the house straight, Serie A leaders Inter Milan intention to take one other stride in the direction of the Scudetto after they go to relegation-threatened Fiorentina on Sunday.

Inter will set off for Stadio Franchi amid a troubling run of outcomes, however they continue to be favourites to assert the Italian title.

Match preview

Despite defeat within the current Derby della Madonnina, Inter have stayed nicely away from arch-rivals AC Milan on the high of the Serie A standings, because the Rossoneri subsequently slipped up in opposition to Lazio.

Yet, Cristian Chivu could also be involved about his team’s lack of momentum since beating Juventus in one other thrilling Derby d’Italia.

Back-to-again defeats in opposition to Bodo/Glimt despatched them crashing out of the Champions League, earlier than they beat Genoa then misplaced to Milan, and Chivu’s aspect have been denied by a late leveller final weekend.

After their 1-1 draw against Lombardy rivals Atalanta, Inter face the prospect of going three league video games and not using a win for the primary time in a single season since April 2023.

Even so, they continue to be within the hunt for a uncommon home double, with their Coppa Italia semi-ultimate tie in opposition to Como set to be concluded subsequent month.

Before worldwide soccer intervenes, the Nerazzurri now go to one in all their favorite opponents, having gained 10 – and misplaced simply two – of their final 17 league video games in opposition to Fiorentina.

© Iconsport / SUSA

Though that grim run incorporates a 3-0 away defeat in October, Fiorentina did memorably win the latest assembly at Stadio Franchi by the identical scoreline, having did not prevail in any of the earlier seven.

The Tuscan membership come into this contest recent from a midweek victory of their fiftieth Conference League fixture – essentially the most of any team for the reason that competitors’s inception – as the 2-time runners-up reached this yr’s quarter-finals.

Leading 2-1 from the house leg, Paolo Vanoli‘s aspect repeated that consequence on Thursday night, knocking out Rakow Czestochowa to book a last-eight clash with Crystal Palace.

With Rakow trying to pressure additional time by bringing their goalkeeper ahead for a late nook, substitute defender Marin Pongracic outrageously scored from inside his personal half to cap a advantageous evening for the Viola in Poland.

While having fun with one other deep run in UEFA’s third-tier competitors, Fiorentina nonetheless face a springtime battle for Serie A survival.

Beating fellow strugglers Cremonese 4-1 on Monday moved them 4 factors away from the drop zone, as Dodo spectacularly ended his lengthy objective drought and Albert Gudmundsson completed a slick team transfer by choosing out the highest nook. 

Now inching away from hazard, a tally of 19 factors from 12 matches this calendar yr would put them seventh within the 2026 desk, with only one loss from their final seven house video games.

Fiorentina Serie A type:

D W W L D W

Fiorentina type (all competitions):

L L D W W W

Inter Milan Serie A type:

W W W W L D

Inter Milan type (all competitions):

W L W D L D

Team News

© Imago / Insidefoto

While Hakan Calhanoglu is about to return, Inter’s harm listing remains to be headlined by captain Lautaro Martinez, who leads the way in which in Serie A’s Capocannoniere rankings with 14 league targets. 

The Nerazzurri have gained 77% of video games this yr when ‘El Toro’ has performed; with out him, their win fee drops by 44% they usually common 1.4 fewer targets.

With Martinez dominated out, Chivu will select two from reported Arsenal target Francesco Pio Esposito – who scored the opener in opposition to Atalanta – Marcus Thuram and Ange-Yoan Bonny.

Meanwhile, Moise Kean may lead the road for Fiorentina, after overcoming a persistent shin downside to begin in opposition to Rakow on Thursday.

Seven of the Italy ahead’s eight Serie A strikes this time period have come at Stadio Franchi, the place he averages a objective each 116 minutes courting again to the beginning of final season. 

Roberto Piccoli has lately discovered some type and can push Kean laborious for choice, whereas regulars comparable to Pongracic, Gudmundsson, David de Gea and ex-Inter man Robin Gosens ought to all return to the beginning XI.

Luca Lezzerini, Nicolo Fortini and Manor Solomon are nonetheless within the hosts’ therapy room, alongside lengthy-time period absentee Tariq Lamptey.

Fiorentina doable beginning lineup:

De Gea; Dodo, Pongracic, Ranieri, Gosens; Mandragora, Fagioli; Parisi, Brescianini, Gudmundsson; Kean

Inter Milan doable beginning lineup:

Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Augusto; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito

We say: Fiorentina 1-2 Inter Milan 

Despite experiencing very completely different seasons, Serie A strugglers Fiorentina are literally in higher type than league leaders Inter. 

While which will give them hope of a uncommon success on this fixture, the Nerazzurri have had a full week to relaxation and must be primed to get again on observe.

For information evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.