A late turnaround against Fiorentina
Inter needed until the closing minutes to beat Fiorentina at San Siro. The first half was goalless, with both sides struggling to break down the opposition defence. Fiorentina went ahead in the 64th minute through Álex Jiménez, and for a long spell Inter looked short of ideas. [1] reports that the goal was answered only late on.
Marcus Thuram equalised in the 90th minute. Piotr Zieliński then converted a penalty deep in stoppage time, around the 97th minute, to complete the turnaround, as [2] described. Coach Cristian Chivu called the performance disciplined and said Inter deserved the win, according to [3].
The result lifted Inter level with Lazio on 22 points. Fiorentina stay in the drop zone on four points, though their coach said afterwards that his team is improving, per [4].
Chivu’s selection calls
The starting lineup carried some interest of its own. Chivu picked Ivan Provedel in goal, ending a run in which Josep Martinez had started every game. Henrikh Mkhitaryan was also named in central midfield after a strong performance in the Champions League. [5] covered both decisions before kick-off.
Up front, Francesco Pio Esposito started but was replaced in the second half by Ange-Yoan Bonny. Chivu preferred Bonny’s movement against Fiorentina’s two central defenders, according to [3]. The change came as Inter chased the equaliser, and the late goals suggest it helped.
The same report shows how often Inter have recovered this season. They have taken 13 points from losing positions, which is a large share of their 22. That is a strength in character, but a team that keeps falling behind is also giving opponents chances to hold on.
Lautaro’s absence and the goals record
The main concern is the captain. Lautaro Martínez is sidelined with a hamstring strain picked up earlier in October and is not expected back until next month, [6] reports. The same piece notes that he finished 22nd in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings.
Inter have coped so far. They have scored 23 goals, the most in Serie A, and conceded 10, according to [3]. Twenty-two points from eight games is their best Serie A start in ten seasons, as [7] pointed out.
The goals have come from several players, with Thuram and Zieliński decisive on Sunday and Bonny and Esposito sharing the striker’s role. Whether that spread holds without Lautaro for several more matches is the practical question for Chivu.
What it means
The site’s own records put Inter first in Serie A with 22 points from eight played: seven wins, one draw and no defeats, with 23 goals for and 10 against. That is the profile of a title contender, and level points with Lazio mean every dropped point matters.
The recent form is strong. Of Inter’s last five matches in all competitions, they won four: 3-0 against Parma, 3-1 away at Bologna, 1-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and 2-1 against Fiorentina. The one defeat was a 3-4 loss to Club Brugge in the Champions League on 13 October. That scoreline shows a side that can be open at the back, even though the league record of 10 goals conceded is solid.
The next fixture is Venezia against Inter in Serie A on 28 October. On paper it is the kind of game a leader should win, but the Fiorentina match showed Inter can make hard work of it, and they will be without Lautaro Martínez. The matchup asks two things of Chivu’s side: a faster start than on Sunday, and enough cutting edge from the forwards available. The site’s forecast for the match locks 24 hours before kick-off, and it will be graded publicly once the result is in.
Sources
- Football Italia: Serie A | Inter 2-1 Fiorentina: Thuram and Zielinski complete another comeback football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Thuram dedicates Inter goal to Lautaro, hopes French compatriot wins Ballon d’Or football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Chivu: ‘Injustices’ made Inter stronger against Fiorentina football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Vanoli: Fiorentina ‘improving’ despite 2-1 loss vs. Inter football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Chivu: Why Provedel and Mkhitaryan ‘deserve to start’ in Inter vs. Fiorentina football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Official: Inter’s Lautaro Martínez comes 22nd in 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Two encouraging stats after Inter’s latest comeback victory football-italia.net ↩
