Final score

14 February 2016 20:45

Fiorentina
46' (2nd half) Babacar
15' (2nd half) Valero
2 - 1
Inter
26' Brozovic
Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni / Linesmen: Costanzo, Passeri / Fourth official: Dobosz / Assistants: Celi, Mariani
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
45' The first half draws to a close here at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Inter lead thanks to Brozovic's well-taken goal.
44' What a save from Handanovic. Vecino looks to head home but the big Slovenian keeper says no.
40' Lovely ball across for Palacio by Brozovic. The Argentine tries to dink a header back for the onrushing Icardi, but there's too much on it.
35' Brozovic finds Nagatomo on the right, but the Japanese's cross is overhit and sails over Icardi and Palacio's heads.
33' Kondogbia battles his way to the edge of the Viola box and picks out Eder, but the Italian's shot is deflected out for a corner.
27' Icardi gets a booking for a late challenge on Gonzalo Rodriguez.
26' GOOOOAL!!! Kondogbia finds Palacio on the byline, the Argentine pulls it back for Brozovic who steers home for 1-0!
17' Palacio bursts down the right and wins a corner, from which Murillo can't quite get enough contact on his header.
14' Ilicic plays a one-two with Bernardeschi before firing towards goal, but Telles is there on the line to pull off an incredible block!
11' Gary Medel also gets a booking for dissent in the wake of that Telles yellow.
11' Telles stops Tello in his tracks on the right wing, with the Brazilian earning the first yellow of the match for his troubles.
6' Miranda makes a mistake in trying to clear, Ilicic tries to take advantage with a shot from outside the box, but Handanovic makes the stop.
4' Bernardeschi bursts through the middle and draws a low save from Handanovic. Kalinic goes for the follow-up but he's offside.
1' And they're off! Kalinic gets the ball rolling for the hosts.
1' The teams are out at the Franchi for this Serie A Week 25 match. Kick-off is moments away!
Minute Text commentary
50' Kondogbia also sent off after full-time.
50' Mazzoleni brings things to a close after five minutes' added time.
48' RED CARD ZARATE. The Fiorentina man is sent off late on.
46' Fiorentina make it 2-1. Handanovic bats Zarate's effort away, but Babacar is there to bundle home.
45' The referee indicates a minimum of three minutes' added time.
41' Double change from Paulo Sousa, who send on Tino Costa and Babacar in place of Vecino and Ilicic.
38' Roberto Mancini makes another change, bringing on D'Ambrosio in place of Palacio.
37' Telles picks up a second yellow card after a challenge on Bernardeschi.
30' Kalinic picks up a booking after a late challenge on Handanovic, who had shown good reactions to beat the Viola man to the ball.
27' Palacio looks to pick out Perisic at the back post, but Roncaglia just gets there ahead of the Inter man.
26' Roberto Mancini makes his first switch of the game, sending on Perisic in place of Eder.
24' Ilicic stands over the free-kick... but he sends it comfortably over the bar.
22' Brozovic booked for a foul on Kalinic just outside the Inter penalty box.
15' Fiorentina level things up. Ilicic crosses in from the right and Borja Valero is there to head home.
13' Paulo Sousa makes the first change of the match, throwing on Zarate in place of Tello.
9' Inter get back on the front foot via Nagatomo and Palacio. Telles works a position to cross, but his delivery is overhit.
5' Ilicic has the first chance of the match, but he drags his left-footed shot wide.
2' Marco Alonso picks up a booking for tripping Palacio as he looked to set Inter away on the break.
1' The match resumes with the Nerazzurri leading 1-0 thanks to Brozovic's first-half goal.
Nagatomo
3.48
3.48
Palacio
7.09
7.09
Handanovic
4.58
4.58
Icardi
3.41
3.41
D'Ambrosio
3.9
3.9
Medel
4.22
4.22
Brozovic
4.89
4.89
Kondogbia
4.74
4.74
Miranda
4.73
4.73
Murillo
4.32
4.32
Perisic
4.74
4.74
Telles
4.63
4.63
Eder
3.24
3.24
Average rating 4.46
8 shots on target 1
3 shots off target 3
12 fouls committed 11
7 corners 4
3 offsides 5
55% ball possession 45%
wins(23) draws(35) defeats(29)

FLORENCE – Inter succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fiorentina on Sunday night as Khouma Babacar scored a last-gasp winner for Paulo Sousa’s side.

The Nerazzurri had taken a 1-0 lead in at half-time after Marcelo Brozovic finished off a neat Inter move on 26 minutes. But Fiorentina were handed a way back into the contest on the hour mark as Borja Valero stormed into the box to head home, and though it looked to be heading for a draw Babacar bundled the ball into the Inter net in stoppage time to secure all three points for the Viola.

Roberto Mancini began with the same side that started the game against Chievo: Handanovic between the sticks, Nagatomo, Miranda, Murillo and Telles making up a back four, Brozovic, Medel and Kondogbia in the centre and an attacking trio of Palacio, Eder and Icardi.

Inter began well, pressing Sousa’s men high up the field as the Stadio Artemio Franchi roared its support for the men in purple. Federico Bernardeschi responded to the rallying cry, threatening the Nerazzurri goal with two left-footed efforts in quick succession.

The atmosphere was ramped up even further on 13 minutes, as Bernardeschi looked certain to score only for Alex Telles to slide in and block his effort on the goal line.

It had been a rip-roaring first 25 minutes, but much to the chagrin of the Viola faithful it was Inter that took the lead: Kondogbia showed great vision to pick out Palacio near the byline to the right of goal, and the Argentine responded in kind by cutting it back for Brozovic to fire home.

Fiorentina looked to regain their bearings, further shaken by Eder’s deflected effort, and indeed the home side came close to drawing level just before half-time. From a corner, Vecino rose highest to guide a strong header towards goal, but Samir Handanovic produced a majestic diving save to ensure the Nerazzurri went in level at half-time.

The second half began with no changes and few early chances. Inter were seemingly in control of the game, but Fiorentina found their equaliser on 59 minutes as Borja Valero timed his run to perfection to head home Ilicic’s cross.

Bolstered by the goal, Fiorentina pressed Inter high up the field, keeping the Nerazzurri penned in but creating little in the way of chances. Mancini’s men began to visibly regain their foothold in the game, but there was trouble brewing as Telles received his marching orders after picking up a soft second yellow - replays showed Mazzoleni had got it wrong as the Brazilian clearly won the ball.

Sensing their chance, the Viola bombed forward in the closing stages and had their winner in the 91st minute as Babacar stabbed home the rebound after Handanovic had saved Zarate’s initial shot.

Zarate was sent off late on for a tangle with Murillo, but there was to be no late equaliser and indeed frustration reigned as the officials seemed incapable of getting the match restarted. The final whistle came soon afterwards, with Inter leaving Florence empty-handed despite a good first-half performance. It's time for courage, heart and pride - and what better chance to show all that than Saturday night's home match against Sampdoria.

FIORENTINA 2-1 INTER (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: Brozovic 26, Borja Valero 59, Babacar 90+1.

FIORENTINA: 12 Tatarusanu; 32 Roncaglia, 2 Rodriguez, 13 Astori, 28 Alonso; 8 Vecino (Costa 87), 20 Valero; 10 Bernardeschi, 72 Ilicic (Babacar 87), 27 Tello (Zarate 58); 9 Kalinic.
Subs not used: 24 Lezzerini, 33 Sepe, 4 Tomovic, 16 Blaszczykowski, 23 Pasqual, 26 Kone.
Coach: Paulo Sousa.

INTER: 1 Handanovic; 55 Nagatomo, 25 Miranda, 24 Murillo, 12 Telles (D'Ambrosio 84); 77 Brozovic, 17 Medel, 7 Kondogbia; 23 Eder (Perisic 71), 9 Icardi, 8 Palacio.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 46 Berni, 5 Jesus, 10 Jovetic, 11 Biabiany, 21 Santon, 22 Ljajic, 27 Gnoukouri, 31 Zonta, 97 Manaj.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Yellow cards: Medel 11, Telles 11, 82, Icardi 28, Alonso 47, Brozovic 68, Kalinic 75.
Red cards: Telles 82, Zarate 90+4, Kondogbia 90+6.

Added time: 0 + 3 mins.

Referee: Mazzoleni.
Assistants: Costanzo, Passeri.
Fourth official: Dobosz.
Additional assistants: Celi, Mariani.

starting lineups

Tatarusanu 12 1 Handanovic
Roncaglia 32 55 Nagatomo
Rodriguez 2 25 Miranda
Astori 13 24 Murillo
Alonso 28 12 Telles
Vecino 8 77 Brozovic
Valero 20 17 Medel
Bernardeschi 10 7 Kondogbia
Ilicic 72 23 Eder
Tello 27 9 Icardi
Kalinic 9 8 Palacio

substitutes

Lezzerini 24 30 Carrizo
Sepe 33 46 Berni
Tomovic 4 5 Jesus
Costa 6 10 Jovetic
Zarate 7 11 Biabiany
Blaszczykowski 16 21 Santon
Pasqual 23 22 Ljajic
Kone 26 27 Gnoukouri
Babacar 30 31 Zonta
33 D'Ambrosio
44 Perisic
97 Manaj