Serie A Preview: Inter - Fiorentina

Kick-Off: Sunday, November 29, 15:00 CET.
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

Out To Forget Barcelona Nightmare

On Tuesday night Jose Mourinho’s Inter gave a shockingly poor performance at Camp Nou against Barcelona. It was a match in which they wanted to show the world they have what it takes to compete at the highest level in the Champions League. Ultimately though, the Nerazzurri were outplayed from start to finish, and could only manage one shot on goal - an non-threatening effort from distance by Diego Milito. Losing just 2-0 was actually flattering to the Beneamata.

There has been some debate as to whether the Italian champions are simply inferior individually to Barcelona or if there is some psychological block they can’t seem to get rid of on the European stage. While it’s true that, particularly in midfield, the Catalans have more quality and creativity than Inter, Mourinho’s team gave Barca less of a game than most Spanish relegation candidates. It’s clear that they can do much better than what they showed on Tuesday night, so there must also be a psychological problem.

Now they will need to win their last group game against Rubin Kazan, who have already beaten the Blaugrana away from home in this campaign, to make sure they qualify for the next round. A draw might also be enough, but only if Dynamo Kiev don’t beat Barcelona and Inter don’t concede more than one goal. It will certainly be a heart-pounding evening for the Nerazzurri faithful, although no one expected it to be easy to qualify from this group.

For now Inter can shift their focus back to Serie A, where, as usual, things are looking much brighter. After this match against Fiorentina, a team whose European fortunes are in sharp contrast to Inter’s so far, they travel to Turin to face Juventus in the famous Derby d’Italia. With a five-point cushion on top of the table, they will certainly have a healthy dose of confidence heading into these two games.

Fiorentina On A High After Historic Qualification

While Inter were being outclassed at Camp Nou, at the Artemio Franchi stadium Fiorentina ensured Italian football did have something to cheer about last Tuesday night. The Gigliati qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League with a match to spare, beating Olympique Lyonnais 1-0. It was an amazing achievement, especially considering that the Viola were in a tough group with such European heavyweights as Liverpool and Lyon, who were both heavily favoured to make it through.

It was also a historic moment for the club, as they had never before participated in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Currently they are on top in Group E with 12 points, and they can now aim to finish first in their final match away to Liverpool, who are already eliminated. Cesare Prandelli’s team can also boast having the most prolific attack of the Champions League so far.

In Serie A they have also looked solid, except for last week’s slip-up at home against Parma, who won 3-2 in Florence. It was probably only a blip, as Fiorentina have shown impressive consistency over the past few years. This has allowed them to finish in the top four in Serie A for each of the last four years (although in 2006 and 2007 they were deducted points, which prevented them from entering the Champions League).

Against Inter they will be desperate to avoid a second consecutive domestic defeat, and their recent tradition against the Nerazzurri at San Siro doesn’t bode well. The Italian champions have won their last seven consecutive home games against the Viola, although Fiorentina’s last win was a memorable one. In May 2000 they ran out 4-0 winners in Milan.


FORM GUIDE

Inter

November 24 v Barcelona (A) – LOST 2-0 (Champions League)

November 21 v Bologna (A) – WON 3-1 (Serie A)

November 8 v Roma (H) – DREW 1-1 (Serie A)

November 4 v Dynamo Kiev (A) – WON 2-1 (Champions League)

November 1 v Livorno (A) – WON 2-0 (Serie A)

Fiorentina

November 24 v Olympique Lyonnais (H) – WON 1-0 (Champions League)

November 21 v Parma (H) – LOST 3-2 (Serie A)

November 8 v Udinese (A) – WON 1-0 (Serie A)

November 4 v Debrecen (H) – WON 5-2 (Champions League)

November 1 v Catania (H) – WON 3-1 (Serie A)


TEAM NEWS

Inter

Wesley Sneijder is still out injured and might be back for next week’s match against Juventus. Davide Santon is also out, while Maicon is suspended.

Possible formation (4-3-1-2): Julio Cesar; Zanetti, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Motta, Cambiasso, Muntari; Stankovic; Eto’o, Milito.

Fiorentina

Alessandro Gamberini’s return might have to wait another week. Adrian Mutu is still unavailable and Marco Donadel is suspended. Mario Santana and Stevan Jovetic will compete for the playmaker position behind Alberto Gilardino.

Possible formation (4-2-3-1): Frey; Comotto, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Gobbi; Montolivo, Zanetti; Marchionni, Santana, Vargas; Gilardino.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Diego Milito (Inter)

So far he has been easily Inter’s most reliable striker, overshadowing fellow new-comer Samuel Eto’o, who has been something of a disappointment. Particularly against former club Barcelona, the Cameroonian was completely invisible. Once again Inter will rely heavily on Milito’s clinical finishing to breach the Fiorentina defence.

Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina)

Once again the Italian international striker has been hitting the target frequently, having scored six goals in Serie A and three in the Champions League already, with an average of around a goal every two games. Last week he scored a brace against his former club Parma, but it wasn’t enough as Fiorentina went down 3-2.


PREDICTION

Fiorentina to finally get something out of this fixture.

Inter 1-1 Fiorentina