Lorenzo Bettoni at the Artemio Franchi reacts to Inter’s incredible 4-3 win against Fiorentina.
Anything you expect to watch in a football match happened in Florence tonight. Goals, saves, controversies, spectacular football and shameful errors, such as the last one from local man Lorenzo Venuti, the one responsible for Inter’s winner.
Fiorentina-Inter: instant reactions
Without doing much, Inter found themselves leading 2-0 in the opening 15 minutes. When the game started, the atmosphere at the stadium wasn’t the one you’d expect on a big Serie A night, almost as if the fans were already resigned to losing and that perhaps had an impact in the early stages. It improve during the game, but Vincenzo Italiano’s men were too naïve defensively and met an extremely practical Inter.
Dimarco controversy
The Viola got back into the game thanks to a penalty kick caused by Federico Dimarco and awarded to Fiorentina following a VAR check (VIDEO). The Italy defender surely deserved as a harsher punishment as his studs-up challenge was a potential leg-breaker. Eventually, he wasn’t even shown a yellow card. It wasn’t the only controversial event of the night as Fiorentina players appealed for an Edin Dzeko foul in the action that led to Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s winner.
Inter never die, but is it enough for the title?
They may not be as solid as last season, but this Inter side do not lack personality. They literally never die and tonight they proved their character. However, the big question is: is this enough to be among the Scudetto contenders? Milan and Napoli seem on a whole different level in terms of defensive solidity, organisation and focus. Inter have already conceded 17 goals in 11 games, six more than their city rivals and eight more than leaders Napoli who face José Mourinho’s Roma on Sunday.
Top
Lautaro Martinez – Inter’s best player at the moment along with Nicolò Barella. His first goal of the night was a thing of beauty although he didn’t face enough resistance from the Tuscans. He scored an ice-cold penalty in the second half.
Nicolò Barella – Opened the account early in the first half, scoring his third goal in the last three games across all competitions. Gave his support in the middle of the park with the usual dynamism that makes him one of the best midfielders in Italy. Looks reborn after a slow start to the season.
Jonathan Ikoné – The France international scored the best goal of the night: a wonderful curler to the far post, which helped the Tuscans complete level the score early in the second half. One of his best performances this season.
Flop
Nikola Milenkovic – Dzeko may have fouled him in the action that led to Inter’s fourth goal, but the Serbia international was not in the best position to intercept a long pass in the middle of the pitch as it had often happened throughout the 90 minutes. Overall, the performance of Fiorentina’s defenders was dreadful.
Francesco Acerbi – The ex-Lazio defender looked very irritable and was booked after clashing with Jack Bonaventura in the first half. It proved to be costly as Ikoné often got the better of him in the second half, knowing that the Italian could not afford another foul.
Lorenzo Venuti – An incredible error that gifted the Nerazzurri the three points. It’s difficult to even describe how the Tuscans’ defender thought he could get away with such a tricky pass meters away from his goal. He tends to be error-prone on big nights and today was no exception.
The only flops were the referee and Var! Di Marco was a red, the penalty for inter was not a penalty and dzeko clearly has a good hold of the defender’s shirt! Not even questionable! Disgraceful!