Inter's capacity to win ugly is becoming one of the defining features of their season. The 2-1 comeback victory over Fiorentina at San Siro, sealed by Zielinski's 97th-minute penalty, extended their Serie A record to seven wins from eight games and kept them firmly in the title conversation, sitting second with 22 points behind Lazio on 25.

Thuram is the story at the heart of this Inter side right now. With Lautaro Martinez sidelined through injury alongside John Stones, Benjamin Pavard, Curtis Jones and Luis Henrique, the Frenchman has stepped into the leadership void with authority. He scored the equaliser against Fiorentina, won the decisive penalty, and is producing the kind of numbers that draw comparisons to the club's great strikers of the past. Manager Cristian Chivu has been clear about the mentality driving these results, saying the team maintained its belief despite what he called injustices from the officials and that the players deserved every compliment for their commitment to the end.

Federico Dimarco's form is a quieter concern. The wing-back started on the bench against Fiorentina and made little impact when introduced, a notable dip for a player who was Serie A's best performer last season. His contract renewal situation adds an extra layer of uncertainty.

Attention now turns to a midweek trip to bottom-placed Venezia, with Chivu expected to rotate heavily ahead of Saturday's derby against Milan.