Inter Milan vs Fiorentina
The Serie A pressure is on Antonio Conte and Inter Milan more than ever before.
As they kick-off their 2020-21 campaign following a second successive summer of big spending, hot on the heels of not insignificant January recruits, it’s firmly time they brought silverware back to the San Siro to justify such significant investment.
Inter failed badly in the final third of last season after being neck and neck with champions Juventus for much of the campaign.
The Nerazzurri ended the season empty-handed on all fronts, culminating in defeat to underdogs Sevilla in the Europa League Final. It was further proof of Conte’s limitations without money, and his request for more financial backing has been heeded.
Now club chiefs must have their support backed up on the pitch.
Talking Points
Conte has brought in Aleksandar Kolarov from Roma, Achraf Hakimi (a potential transfer coup to bring electric pace down the right), and Arturo Vidal who could offer real bite after the Chilean terrier was signed from Barcelona.
Furthermore, as well as their signings, Radja Nainggolan and Ivan Perisic have returned from loan spells at Cagliari and Bayern Munich so Conte’s men are well stocked in all departments.
The Englishman is back at Manchester United after spending last season on loan at Roma.
However, he appears to have no future at United, while Roma have yet to agree to a permanent deal.
All that combined means this season is where everyone at the club will be judged, and they must deliver. To put it bluntly, Inter now should be winning the Scudetto for the first time in a decade.
They begin on home soil and face Fiorentina, the Nerazzurri granted an extra week of preparation time after their European excursions.
After months of speculation, it also appears Lautaro Martinez will no longer be moving and they will be spearheaded once more by Romelu Lukaku whose first season in the Italian top flight was as prolific as he was in England.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, beat Torino 1-0 in their opening match last weekend with talented midfielder Gaetano Castrovilli scoring the winner. They have some star attractions of their own, not least the talented Federico Chiesa – who they rely on a lot – and Franck Ribery, while Jack Bonaventura could be an astute acquisition from Milan.
Fiorentina coach Beppe Iachini knows his side need a ‘great performance’ and, with them not regarded as good travellers, Inter will be firm favourites to start their campaign in style at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
History
This has been a game which has produced some classics and Serie A highlights in recent years.
In February last year, the sides played out a 3-3 draw in Serie A when a first-minute own goal gave the hosts the lead before Inter fought back to lead 3-1 through Matias Vecino, Matteo Politano, and Ivan Perisic before Luis Muriel and a last-minute Jordan Veretout penalty left the Florence fans happy.
Two years earlier, Fiorentina edged a nine-goal thriller in front of their own fans – doubles from Vecino, Khoumar Babacar and a header from the late skipper Davide Astori sealed a 5-4 win.
They were well in the ascendancy until two goals in the final three minutes from Mauro Icardi completed his hat-trick and brought Inter back to within a goal.
That remains Viola’s only success over Inter in their last eight meetings.
Overall, Inter have 66 league victories against Fiorentina who have won on 44 occasions with a further 53 draws.
Two of those were last term. A 1-1 draw in Florence saw Dusan Vlahovic net a last-gasp equaliser after Borja Valero put Inter ahead.
The return fixture in the San Siro in July ended with no goals.
Betting Tip
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Inter Milan vs Fiorentina | First Half Asian Handicap Inter -0.50 @ 2.09 |
| September 27, 02:45 (GMT+8) |
With the SBOTOP Serie A betting odds, Inter Milan are odds-on to win and can be backed 1X2 @ 1.54, Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.25, while Fiorentina are well adrift 1X2 @ 5.60, Asian Handicap +0.75 @ 2.33.
The draw – a regular result in recent times – is on offer @ 4.10.
A repeat of last season’s encounter – correct score 1-1 – will pay out @ 7.80.
Inter drew a quarter of their league games last season and they will need to improve on this statistic if they go one place better in the league.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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