Fiorentina-Inter 1-1: Ndour responds to Pio Esposito, title race still open

Character test for Fiorentina, which imposes a 1-1 draw on the leaders Inter at the Franchi. After the early goal by Pio Esposito, Ndour responds in the second half. The team of Chivu, which rises to 69 points, extends its lead to +6 over Milan and +7 over Napoli, but does not settle the scudetto discussion after 30 matchdays of Serie A.

The Viola, on the other hand, rises to 29, pulling two points ahead of Cremonese and Lecce, who are second to last.

Chivu suspended, Kolarov sits on the bench. Without Lautaro Martinez, Bastoni, and Mkhitaryan, Inter fields Carlos Augusto as a left center-back alongside Akanji and Bisseck; in midfield Barella, Calhanoglu, and Zielinski, with Dumfries and Dimarco on the flanks; up front Pio Esposito pairs with Thuram. Vanoli responds with Dodò, Pongracic, Ranieri, and Gosens protecting De Gea; in midfield Fagioli, Bresciani, and Ndour; Gudmundsson and Parisi supporting Kean.

Lightning start for the Nerazzurri: after a few seconds Barella curls in from the right and Pio Esposito, with a header, surpasses De Gea. In the 4th minute Thuram breaks through on the left, crosses from the byline, the ball goes up in the air, Pio Esposito collects but the Viola defense closes it down. In the 7th minute Barella controls on a pass from Dumfries and shoots, finding a deflection that deceives De Gea, but the goal is disallowed for offside. Fiorentina makes an appearance in the 16th minute with Kean: a powerful shot but straight at Sommer, who blocks it in two attempts. In the 19th minute, another chance for Inter: Pio Esposito curls a right-footed shot from a tight angle, the ball grazes the post. The home side reacts in the 21st minute: a cross from Dodò, Gudmundsson makes a run and hits it between his head and shoulder, just missing the target. In the 29th minute Brescianini shoots angled towards the far post, Kean slips while attempting to deflect it and misses the target by a few centimeters. In the 39th minute, the Viola scores but it’s offside: Parisi assists Fagioli at the edge, the shot is deflected, the ball reaches Kean who scores on the volley from two steps but starts in an irregular position.

In the second half, the Gigliati increase their intensity. In the 64th minute, a counterattack by Gudmundsson: he cuts back onto his right and his shot is blocked by the Inter defense. In the 71st minute, Ndour shoots, Sommer parries it sideways, then Bisseck anticipates Brescianini. Inter falls back and in the 77th minute the equalizer arrives: Barella loses a crucial ball at the edge, the play develops on the left, Gudmundsson takes a venomous shot, Sommer parries and Ndour is timely on the rebound for the 1-1. Fiery finale. In the 80th minute, Ndour finds Gudmundsson again, who wastes a great opportunity. In the 82nd minute, Harrison, just on the field, cuts back and places a curling left-footed shot that grazes the post. With Fiorentina unbalanced, Inter strikes back in stoppage time: in the 91st minute, a rebound in the area favors Akanji, a left-footed shot in a fall is parried by a vigilant De Gea. In the 94th minute, the same Viola goalkeeper excels with a turn from Pio Esposito, securing a precious point for survival.