Inter continued to show its strength in Serie A, but the victory against Fiorentina revealed some fragilities that the club must address if it wants to maintain its leadership. The match, played at the San Siro, was decided by two goals in added time, but Fiorentina showed that they can create opportunities of great danger, with 33 shots at seven and 11 shots at the post, including two hits on the crossbars and a penalty that was not sanctioned. Despite the defeat, Inter remains at the top of the table, in the same position as in the first match, but the defense continues to be a critical point.
In the first half, Inter showed a slow pace, with a lack of speed and sprint, and De Gea had to intervene several times to save the goal. The absence of Lautaro Martínez has especially affected the ability to "mend" the midfield, a quality that the Argentine striker brings to the pitch but that players like Thuram and Esposito are missing. The team struggled to create space and turn chances into goals, while Fiorentina used a single shot on goal to score. In total, Inter have scored 23 goals in eight matches, but have conceded 10, a higher number than teams like Lazio, Como, Milan and Cagliari, who have recorded fewer goals conceded.
Inter's defense was also tested by Jiménez's goal, which came from a distance of 25 meters and showed the lack of preparation of Provedel, who blocked the shot. Last year, Inter had the worst defense among the top eight teams, with 11 goals conceded, but they improved in the following 30 games, reducing their goals against to 24. Now it is necessary for Chivu to find a way to fix the back area, as he did in the championship season.
For Fiorentina, the match represents a sign of difficulty in avoiding the relegation zone. With four points from eight games, the team remains in the same position as at the end of the previous season, but has conceded 19 goals this season, a higher number than the 12 conceded in 25-26. The 2025 summer transfer market, like that of 2024, saw the team make operations that did not lead to significant improvement, and now the main objective is to get out of the relegation zone.
Coach Gian Piero Vanoli tried to rebalance the team after the defeat against Como, removing a striker (Gonçalves) and introducing a midfielder (Brescianini). In the first half the team remained more compact and occupied spaces more efficiently, but lost the ability to create goals. The dilemma is that, if you play with four attackers, you create more chances of scoring but you risk being fouled, while if you insert an additional midfielder you defend better but your presence in the opponent's area is reduced. Vanoli's task is to find a balance between these two approaches to guarantee both defense and attack.
With the season still long, Inter will have to work on these defensive and offensive issues to maintain their leading position, while Fiorentina will have to try to improve their defense and find solutions to get out of the relegation zone. The next match for both teams will be crucial to understand if the changes made by the coach will bring positive results.