Fiorentina lost 0-3 to Inter, nine games without a win in Serie A

Inter Milan beat Fiorentina 3-0 in the early hours of October 30 at San Siro. David De Gea had an excellent first half with several saves, but Hakan Calhanoglu scored in the 66th minute and sealed the game with a late penalty. In between, Petar Sucic scored and Mattia Viti was sent off, extending Fiorentina's nine-match winless streak in Serie A.

The key moment: the midfield lost control

Fiorentina started with the aim of controlling the tempo, closing down the central space to limit pressure. De Gea kept the purple team alive in the first half thanks to timely reflexes. However, when Inter increased the pace after the break, Fiorentina's midfield lost control of the tempo, and the game collapsed in a chain reaction.

In the 66th minute, Calhanoglu opened the scoring with a cool finish, like a psychological lever that made Fiorentina slip away. Just a few minutes later, Sucic broke through a chaotic defense to make it 2-0. At the end of the match, Viti received a red card and Calhanoglu made it 3-0 from the 11m mark, ending the nightmare at Giuseppe Meazza.

Main events: Inter changed speed, Fiorentina broke the axis

The initial game saw Fiorentina play it safe, focusing on stopping Inter’s central combinations. But after the break, Inter increased their pressing and the speed of their ball circulation, stretching the visitors’ defensive structure. The opening goal came as a natural consequence: a loss of control in midfield, opening up space in front of the penalty area.

Calhanoglu’s double (one from the penalty spot) was the decisive difference in quality, while Viti’s red card further dashed any hopes of a fightback. De Gea can keep the team afloat in tough times, but he cannot solve the systemic breakdown.

Strategy: choose safety and tie yourself up

Fiorentina opted for a physical midfield unit to cover the middle, but the price they paid was a lack of creativity in transition. A deep defence helped them hold out in the first half, but they had no escape plan when Inter increased the pressure after the break.

Former player Paolo Di Canio commented: “Fiorentina are neither creative nor aggressive enough. They are in the middle of the line – neither attacking well enough nor defending solidly enough.” It is an accurate picture of a team lacking a clear identity: the effort is there, but the ideas and reaction speed when going behind are too few.

Post-match reaction: Pioli admits problem, avoids talking about future

Coach Stefano Pioli said bluntly after the final whistle: “If after nine rounds we have not won a single match, it is clear that we have a problem. But I am not thinking about my future, I am only focusing on my position in the rankings. The two upcoming matches against Lecce and Genoa will be crucial.”

It was a statement that showed he understood the pressure. Pioli defended his cautious selection against a fiercely pressing Inter side, insisting the team “didn’t lack determination, they just didn’t react quickly enough when they were behind”. But the explanations hardly masked the reality: Fiorentina lacked creativity, vitality and belief going into the second half.

The wider context: Serie A deadlocked, Europe a fragile fulcrum

After nine rounds of Serie A, Fiorentina are without a win and are bottom of the table. In contrast, their form in the UEFA Europa Conference League has been excellent, winning all three of their games. However, European competition cannot make up for their domestic woes: the attack lacks dynamism, the defense is vulnerable, and there is no one in midfield capable of dictating the tempo.

A tough schedule may be a factor, but it is no excuse. Every defeat erodes the confidence that once made Fiorentina so romantic and daring. If a way out is not found quickly, the pressure of performance and psychology could push the season further out of control.

Rendezvous of life and death: Lecce and Genoa

Pioli calls the upcoming two games against Lecce and Genoa “vital” – a test of both the coach’s position and the dressing room’s confidence. A positive result will not only bring points, but more importantly, restart the rhythm of play, restore the spirit when the game changes direction – something Fiorentina lost at Giuseppe Meazza.