FLORENCE, ITALY — Inter Milan won 2-1 at Fiorentina in Serie A on Saturday to keep alive its faint hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
Inter moved five points behind fourth-place Fiorentina and eight points behind third-place Napoli, which visits relegation-threatened Sassuolo on Sunday.
Inter took the lead in the 34th minute when Rodrigo Palacio, who earlier hit the post, chested down Fredy Guarin’s pass, and right-footed it past on-rushing Fiorentina goalkeeper Neto.
Fiorentina leveled immediately after the break as a rare mistake from Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic allowed in a long-range effort from Juan Cuadrado.
Substitute Mauro Icardi scored what was to prove the winner in the 65th when he volleyed home Yuto Nagatomo’s cross, although there was a suspicion of offside.
“It’s a mistake, but we’ll accept it,” Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella said. “But it’s the second match that we’ve lost at home in this way”.
Fiorentina brought on Mario Gomez three minutes later for his first appearance in five months.