Lackluster Inter Held Again

Pre-Match And Team News

La Viola had won four successive league fixtures heading into this contest, and were desperate to make it five; however they would have to do it without two of their most influential players, as Adrian Mutu was a late withdrawal due to injury, whilst Alberto Gilardino was forced to miss the match through suspension.

Gilardino picked up a two game suspension for scoring a goal with his hand at the Renzo Barbera stadium against Palermo last weekend.

Meanwhile, Inter boss Jose Mourinho has left both Adriano and Julio Cruz back in Milan, for disciplinary reasons, meaning that Victor Obinna will play from the start once again.

Esteban Cambiasso and Sulley Muntari are the latest injury casualties for the club, and they too have been ruled out of the contest.

First Half

The visitors got the play underway at the Artemio Franchi Stadium, in front of a sold out crowd in Florence earlier tonight.

After a slow start, Inter Milan’s Brazilian winger Mancini had the first opportunity of the match, when his fierce strike on an acute angle struck the crossbar, following a glorious through ball by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, after just 5 minutes.

The home side responded immediately, as Mario Santana made a promising run on the right, and his eventual ball in was met by the head of Giampaolo Pazzini, whose decent header was well dealt with by Julio Cesar.

There was a scare for both sides on 11 minutes, when Ibra and Per Kroldrup clashed heads, with the Inter man coming off second best in the clash. Thankfully for their sake, the players were not seriously hurt, and so play soon continued.

La Viola had the best chance of the opening 20 minutes, as they were awarded a free kick in an extremely dangerous position, which was won by Kuzmanovic. It was taken well by Pasqual, however unfortunately once again; Pazzini could not put his header on target.

Despite being without their two main men up front in Gilardino and Mutu, Prandelli’s men were definitely looking strong in attack, as they looked confident and optimistic of scoring, when on the ball in their final third.

It was all Fiorentina at this stage, however at the 26 minute mark, the Nerazzurri found themselves on a promising counter attack, which resulted in Mancini chipping a wonderful ball in the path of Ibrahimovic. Unfortunately for his sake though, his effort on the half-volley was off target, and thus no danger to Sebastian Frey in goals.

Just as it looked as if Mourinho’s men were getting themselves back into the match, La Viola went close once again, following another glorious ball in to the area by Kuzmanovic, which was met by the head of Osvaldo. The header was powerful, but over the cross bar, and no danger for Julio Cesar.

The Nerazzurri did not look as dangerous heading forward as their opponents, however over the next 10 minute period; the Milanese club had a number of opportunities to break the deadlock from the corner. They obviously didn’t, and the score remained scoreless, heading into the closing stages of the half.

After 40 minutes, Pablo Osvaldo should have broken the deadlock, following a lovely through ball by Pazzini. Osvaldo took a touch, but blasted his shot well over the bar, from inside the 18 yard box.

Just moments later, Fiorentina went close to scoring again, as they continued to heap the pressure on the reigning champions. Pasqual took a free kick from the edge of the area, only for his powerful effort to be superbly saved by Julio Cesar.

It was a opening 45 minutes in Florence, and at the break, the side’s were deadlocked at 0-0, with both goal keepers proving that they would be tough to beat tonight.

Second Half

The home side got things started in the second half, and it was clear from the onset that they were keen to pick up from where they left off in the first half.

Despite an entertaining opening minute or so, nothing of any real significance took place, as the first real highlight of the second half came after seven minutes of play, when Kroldrup picked up the first booking of the match, following a harsh challenge on Inter’s Brazilian winger Mancini.

Arguably the miss of the match, came on 58 minutes, when Maicon’s delivery into the area was punched by Frey, straight into the path of Mancini. The Brazilian had the goal at his mercy, but he could only manage a poor strike that sailed over the bar.

Just after the hour mark, Mourinho made the first change of the match, as Mancini and Obinna were replaced by Patrick Vieira and Hernan Crespo, as the Inter boss made a change in the formation, to try and find a goal from somewhere. The change almost had an immediate effect, as with his first touch of the game, Crespo was denied by a superb Frey.

Prandelli made his first change of the match on 69 minutes, as somewhat surprisingly, Kuzmanovic was taken from the field in place of Sergio Almiron, with just 20 minutes remaining in the contest.

Both sides looked desperate in the next 10 or so minutes of play, as they began to realize that time was well and truly running out for them, if they wished to attain all three points from the contest. The best opportunity in this period undoubtedly came for the home side, when Gamberini’s header from a corner, narrowly missed after 76 minutes.

Gamberini was forced into making a goal saving challenge on Ibrahimovic soon after, following a great through ball by Javier Zanetti. The challenge denied Ibra a one-on-one battle with Frey.

Pazzini had another glorious opportunity to score with a header on 85 minutes, when Pasqual’s great run and even better ball in from the left, was met by the head of Pazzini, who just could not keep his header down.

La Viola continued to press, as just moments later, Jovetic’s wicked drive from 25 yards, once again, sailed inches over the bar.

There were four minutes of stoppage time, and to the pleasure of the home fans, the referee’s whistle sounded after this time, bringing an end to a match that the home side really should have won.

With Udinese, Napoli and Milan all winning this evening, the Nerazzurri will slip to fourth in the standings at the completion of the round, whilst the Viola are just one point back in fifth place.

TEAMS

Fiorentina (4-3-3): Frey; Comotto, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Melo, Montolivo; Santana, Pazzini, Osvaldo

Inter (4-3-3): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Burdisso, Cordoba, Maxwell; Chivu, Stankovic, Zanetti; Obinna, Ibrahimovic; Mancini

Adrian Del Monte