Inter Milan welcome Fiorentina to the San Siro on 25 October 2026 for a Serie A Matchweek 8 match that pits the league leaders against a side sitting in the relegation zone, Inter first on 19 points after seven games and Fiorentina 18th on just four.
Inter enter the weekend as defending Serie A and Coppa Italia champions under Cristian Chivu, who took charge in June 2025 and the numbers justify the confidence: 21 goals scored, nine conceded across seven league games. Fiorentina, by contrast, have had a miserable start that led to the appointment of Paolo Vanoli in September 2026 and another defeat here would deepen their slide and intensify questions about a defence that has already shipped 17 goals in seven outings.
Inter arrive in good shape, their last five Serie A matches reading W W D W W, with a 3-1 win over Bologna on 17 October and a 3-0 victory against Parma a week earlier, plus a 1-0 squeeze past Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on 21 October. Fiorentina's league run of L L D W L tells a different story, with a 1-3 loss to Como on 18 October following a 2-1 defeat at Genoa on 10 October.
Inter are carrying a long injury list into this one. Lautaro Martinez is out with a thigh/hamstring problem, Luis Henrique is also unavailable, Benjamin Pavard is sidelined, Alessandro Bastoni serves a suspension after his red card against Shakhtar Donetsk and Curtis Jones is out with a muscle complaint. A proven striker, a starting centre back and midfield cover all absent at once is a lot to absorb, even for a squad with Inter's depth. Fiorentina are not in great shape either: Fabiano Parisi is ruled out long term with an ACL injury and Luca Ranieri is doubtful with a foot problem, putting further strain on a backline that has struggled all season.
Without Bastoni, Inter's back three will lean on experienced deputies, though Federico Dimarco remains the creative force on the left and Hakan Calhanoglu controls set pieces and tempo from midfield with Nicolo Barella doing the relentless running around him. Fiorentina set up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, with Mateo Pellegrino leading the attack and David de Gea in goal. With Martinez absent, Thuram's hold up play becomes the main attacking reference for Inter, meaning Fiorentina's centre backs face physical duels they did not have to plan for and Calhanoglu's delivery from set pieces is a danger they have never dealt with cleanly.
Inter 2-0 Fiorentina. Thuram is the focal point up front with Martinez gone and Calhanoglu's set piece delivery is where the second goal most likely comes from. Fiorentina need the points but a side that has conceded 17 in seven is not keeping Inter out at San Siro.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
