Overview
Coming to Naples as the most in-form team in Serie A, Inter Milan are confident of aiming for a victory against Napoli - the team that defeated them in the race for Scudetto last season. However, the Nerazzurri suffered a 1-3 defeat at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, thereby losing the top spot to their opponents.
Kevin De Bruyne's penalty-opening goal in the first half, along with two classy goals in the second half, helped Napoli end Inter's long winning streak and return to the top of Serie A.
The visitors could only keep hope with Hakan Calhanoglu's goal to reduce the gap from the penalty spot. Despite having hit the goal twice, Inter Milan could not turn the situation around in a tense match where collisions continuously broke out on the pitch.
This was Inter's first defeat since losing to Juventus in September. However, they will not have much time to regret, because soon Cristian Chivu and his team will return to San Siro to welcome Fiorentina.
In the last meeting between the two teams in Milan in February, Inter Milan won 2-1. With the opponent's current form, coach Chivu will certainly expect a similar result in the next match.
The memory of the surprising 3-0 victory over Inter Milan last season has become distant for Fiorentina. They are currently struggling in the Serie A relegation zone after 8 disappointing rounds of the 2025-2026 season.
Stefano Pioli's team has yet to win a single Serie A title this season, with only 4 points - despite efforts to regain a valuable point last weekend.
In the Derby dell'Appennino match, Viola was 2 goals behind but resiliently equalized 2-2 thanks to two penalties from Albert Gudmundsson and Moise Kean. Fiorentina even came very close to victory when Dodo missed a great chance in the 99th minute. However, avoiding a fourth consecutive defeat at home was enough to bring some consolation to the fans.
Their only win since the start of the season has been in the Conference League, but that has not helped Pioli avoid the growing pressure.
After marking his 500th Serie A match with a loss to AC Milan, the veteran coach is preparing for another fateful reunion. That was a trip to San Siro to face Inter, the team that fired him after only 6 months of leading.
Faced with a series of difficult matches and an uncertain future for Stefano Pioli, Fiorentina are in dire need of a positive result to save the season and lift the team's spirit.
Personnel situation
Inter Milan will not have the service of Marcus Thuram in the away match against Fiorentina. The French striker has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury.
Cristian Chi Vu is likely to give Ange-Yoan Bonny or Francesco Pio Esposito the opportunity to pair up with captain Lautaro Martinez in attack.
In midfield, Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not be able to play after having a thigh problem in the loss to Napoli, forcing Chivu to make adjustments. With a tight schedule before the international break, Inter may rotate their squad to ensure the fitness of key players.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina will definitely field their strongest squad as Stefano Pioli is under great pressure about his future. In attack, Moise Kean will pair up with Albert Gudmundsson or Roberto Piccoli, while former Inter Edin Dzeko striker is likely to be on the bench.
Tariq Lamptey and Christian Kouame are two absentees confirmed for Viola, although Kouame has returned to full training after a long absence due to a anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Expected lineup:
Inter Milan: Martinez, Bisseck, Acerbi, Augusto, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Sucic, Dimarco, Bonny, Martinez.
Fiorentina: De Gea, Pongracic, Mari, Ranieri, Dodo, Mandragora, Nicolussi Caviglia, Ndour, Gosens, Gudmundsson, Kean.
The match between Inter Milan and Fiorentina takes place at 2:45 am on October 30 (Vietnam time).
