Football is a game of sub-plots. And, as supporters, we're often quick in pointing out the game's finer details. Yet this evening, when first met second at the San Siro, the parallels were laid bare for all to see.

Of similar character to Cagliari's 4-1 desecration of Walter Mazzarri's Inter last season, Roberto Mancini was consigned to the same fate by a Fiorentina side bristling with confidence. Tomorrow marks exactly a year to the day since that ignominy and, thanks to goals from Nikola Kalinic and Josip Ilicic, it was the visitors who ended the evening atop the Serie A table. 

Nerazzurri capitulation

Fireworks were promised and within two minutes Fiorentina were awarded a penalty. The oft-reliable Stefan Handanovic was adjudged to have upended Nikola Kalinic inside the penalty area after an erroneous touch. Josip Ilicic, who netted against Milan on the opening day, dispatched the subsequent spot-kick with consummate ease.

Inter spent no time licking their wounds and would soon threaten via Geoffrey Kondogbia. The Frenchmen met Davide Santon’s cross but failed to generate sufficient power to beat Tatarasanu.

Start as you mean to go on, the old adage goes, and, with 18 minutes having gone, the visitors doubled their advantage. Scorer of the spot-kick, Ilicic, received possession from range and took aim at Handanovic’s goal. The Inter No.1 palmed his thunderous effort into the air but could do little to prevent the ball dropping onto the goal line to be prodded home by Kalinic. Suddenly, Inter, who had conceded just once since the campaign commenced, found themselves with a mountain to climb.

Just as Inter were beginning to come to terms with the visitors attacking prowess, however, they found themselves three behind. Kalinic grabbed his second when he stroked home from Marcos Alonso’s driven cross. 

Mancini leapt into the technical area and began barking instructions. Not since they met Empoli on the final day of last season had Inter found themselves behind in a match. Here, however, they were behind by three. 

Three almost became four when Ilicic, a thorn in Inter’s right-hand side, marauded forward. His presence was thwarted by Gary Medel, but Inter, if it wasn’t evident enough, were throbbing.

The wounds began to fester, however, when Miranda was given his marching orders on 31 minutes. Kalinic, in a move redolent of Rodrigo Ely’s dismissal on the opening day, sprung the offside trap and was hauled down by the Brazilian. There was little in the way of protestation and the clash soon became a matter of damage limitation for the hosts.

Visitors utilise their man advantage

With Kongobia having been hooked at half-time to shore up the backline, Fiorentina were swift in stamping their authority and stung the palms of Handanovic three minutes after the restart through Milan Badelj.

Fiorentina, though, resting on their three goal cushion, were content with keeping possession in midfield. One move produced north of 30 passes.

A consolation goal

Inter were handed a lifeline when Mauro Icardi bundled his effort over the line a minute shy of the hour mark. The Argentine met Alex Telles’ free-kick with his head and, after the ball had cannoned off the post, rose quickest slam in the rebound. 

Visitors consolidate their lead

Nenad Tomovic, a 68th minute substitute, then tested Handanovic with a rasping effort.

And, just as Albin Ekdal had inflicted on a wounded Inter outfit last season, Nikola Kalinic played the central role here, netting his third 15 minutes from time. Ilicic broke down the left and, unselfishly, squared the ball across goal to the Croat. Akin to his second of the evening, the forward was presented with an empty net and he duly dispatched. 

The result moved Paulo Sousa's side to the summit of the Serie A standings for the first time since 1999. For Mancini's side, however, it's back to the drawing board.