Inter vs. Fiorentina: statistics and previous encounters

MILAN - On Wednesday, Inter and Fiorentina are set to meet for the third time this season, with the match scheduled to kick off at 21:45 CEST at San Siro in what will be matchday 35 of the Serie A season. The reverse fixture at the Stadio Franchi finished 1-1, with goals from Borja Valero and Vlahovic. The Nerazzurri and the Viola also faced one another in the quarter finals of the Coppa Italia in January, with Inter winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Candreva and Barella, and Christian Eriksen also making his Nerazzurri debut.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

Inter and Fiorentina have played one another 163 times in Serie A, with 66 Nerazzurri wins, 53 draws and 44 wins for the Viola; Inter have scored 250 times across these fixtures, while Fiorentina have netted 210 times. The Nerazzurri are unbeaten in their last five Serie A matches against Fiorentina, with two victories and three draws. But at San Siro, Inter have won four on the bounce, with three of those victories coming in the league, and the other coming in the Coppa Italia. 

Inter have hosted Fiorentina 81 times, with the Nerazzurri coming out on top 48 times, Fiorentina winning 15, and the remaining 18 matches ending in a draw.

However, the most striking statistic is that in the last 20 matches between Inter and Fiorentina at San Siro, there has not been a single draw. Inter have won 17, while Fiorentina have won three since 1997, the last coming in September 2015, when Fiorentina beat the Nerazzurri 4-1. 

CURRENT FORM AND STATISTICS

Since the league restart, only Atalanta (17) have scored more goals at home than Inter (15).

Fiorentina have won their last two away matches in the league, but they haven't won three away matches in a row since April 2018. The Viola have come out on top in their last two league matches, having won just two of the previous 12. The Viola have not won three in a row since October. 

Inter have had 18 different goalscorers this season: the Nerazzurri have never topped this figure in a single Serie A season (with 18 different players on the scoresheet in 2007/08 as well). In all competitions, there have been 19.

And the records don't stop there. Conte's Inter have scored more headed goals than any other Serie A side this season in Serie A, with 18, and since 2004/05 (since Opta started publishing this data), Inter have never done better (also reaching 18 in 2006/07). Furthermore, the Nerazzurri have conceded fewer headed goals than any other side (two). 

Only Atalanta (373) and Napoli (374) have allowed their opposition fewer shots than Fiorentina (382) this season.

PLAYER FOCUS

Romelu Lukaku is the fourth player in Inter's history to score at least 21 goals in their debut season in Serie A after Meazza (31), following in the footsteps of Nyers (26) and Ronaldo (25). Lukaku has scored 27 goals this season in all competitions, equalling his career best (he also had 27 with United in 2017/18). The next time he gets on the scoresheet, he will secure his personal best. 

Alexis Sánchez has recorded six assists and scored two goals in his last six Serie A appearances: in the 12 matches prior to this run, he had scored one goal and provided two assists. No Inter player has played a part in more goals than Alexis Sanchez since the restart (nine, two goals and seven assists), putting him level with Roanldo and Calhanoglu.

Stefan De Vrij is the fourth centre-back to have scored at least twice in each of his last four seasons in Europe's Top-5 Leagues, after Nathan Aké, Sergio Ramos and Leonardo Bonucci. De Vrij is one of the four joint-top-scoring centre-backs in Serie A. De Vrij, along with Bani and Manolas, have scored four this season. 

Kwadwo Asamoah has a particularly good scoring record against Fiorentina, with three goals in 14 appearances against the Viola, including his first ever Serie A goal in April 2009.

SIX OLD FLAMES, THREE FOR EACH SIDE

• Cristiano Biraghi made 70 appearances and scored two goals in Serie A in a Fiorentina jersey. 

• Matías Vecino played 67 matches for Fiorentina, scoring five times for the Viola.

• Borja Valero made 166 apperances for Fiorentina and netted 14 times in Serie A for the Viola. 

• Fiorentina midfielder Alfred Duncan played three matches for Inter, but never got on the scoresheet in his time at San Siro. 

• Marco Benassi (who is out injured for tomorrow's game) played six matches for Inter, without opening his account. In total, he made 13 appearances for the Nerazzurri, scoring once in the Europa League.

• Dalbert also made 24 appearances without scoring for Inter.

With his next match, Samir Handanovic will match Facchetti in appearances for the Nerazzurri, putting him 22nd in Inter's all-time rankings. 

Only Ciro Immobile and Cristiano Ronaldo have taken more shots than Lautaro Martínez (116) this season.

Fiorentina defender Martín Cáceres played 46 matches under Conte at Juventus, scoring twice.

Inter midfielder Stefano Sensi played five matches and scored once in Serie A under Coach Giuseppe Iachini at Sassuolo.

Erick Pulgar has created 50 shooting opportunities for teammates, more than any other player in Serie A this season.

Patrick Cutrone has scored in three consecutive matches for the first time in his career in Serie A: he has netted once against Inter in his career in the Coppa Italia on the 27 December 2017. 

COACHES

Antonio Conte has faced Fiorentina eight times in Serie A, with four wins, two draws and two losses.

Antonio Conte and Giuseppe Iachini have faced one another just once in Serie A, with the Inter coach coming out on top (Juventus 3-0 Siena in February 2013).

Giuseppe Iachini has faced Inter 11 times as a coach in Serie A: the Fiorentina boss has a record of three wins, five draws and three defeats against the Nerazzurri.

SUSPENSIONS Inter: - Fiorentina: -

THOSE ONE AWAY FROM SUSPENSION Inter: Barella, de Vrij, Gagliardini, Valero, Vecino. Fiorentina: Castrovilli, Igor, Lirola, Pulgar, Venuti, Vlahovic.