Inter’s duo of Giampaolo Pazzini and Yuto Nagatomo where on song when they scored the only goals of the game to give Inter a 2-0 win over Fiorentina at the San Siro Stadium.
Inter came into the match in a desperate search to turn their home form around, after having to endure five losses at the San Siro, and they did just that as Pazzini managed to score his first domestic goal since September.
It was a Nerazzurri dominated first half as the first chance of the match fell to them, when Philippe Coutinho threaded through a ball to Pazzini whose shot was poorly directed straight at Artur Boruc.
Alessandro Gamberini charged down a cross with his chest which resulted in several penalty appeals for a handling offence, but they were swiftly waved away by the referee.
Coutinho was at it again when he skipped down the right flank, only to unleash a shot that stung the palms of Boruc.
But it was Inter who broke the deadlock four minutes from the half. Pazzini made a run into the box where he flicked the ball over an emerging Boruc, but there was nothing the ‘keeper could do as it went into an empty net at the tightest of angles.Â
The Italian refrained from celebrating as it was his former side he scored against.
The restarted started just as the first half had ended: with a goal. It was a clumsy goal by Fiorentina and a lucky one for Inter as the Japanese player rushed to receive a Pazzini pass, Manuel Pasqual hurried to defend it but his clearance hit Nagatomo’s legs rebounding into the back of the net.
Cesare Natali sent in a headered ball, from a corner, over the cross bar, while Boruc dealt with yet another Nagatomo effort.
Sulley Muntari scuffed a great opportunity to make it 3-0, as he misdirected his volley from just six yards out, which also saw Pazzini unable to reach the tap-in.
In the final minutes, Valon Behrami and Santiago Silva saw their headers go astray to leave Inter with their 2-0 lead into the final whistle.