European Football: Fiorentina Stalls Inter’s Title Charge, Barça Dominates Valencia In Cup

Internazionale faced a disappointing setback in their quest for the top spot in Serie A, suffering a 3-0 defeat against Fiorentina.

The match, which resumed after being suspended earlier in the season due to a medical emergency, saw Moise Kean shine for the hosts, scoring twice and solidifying Fiorentina’s position in the league.

The match began with a tense atmosphere, as Inter looked to capitalize on their chances early on. David de Gea made a crucial save from Lautaro Martínez, and Carlos Augusto had a goal disallowed for offside.

However, Fiorentina’s resilience paid off as they created more opportunities, with Kean coming close with a header and another shot that went wide.

The breakthrough came in the 59th minute when Luca Ranieri scored from a corner, placing a low shot into the corner of the net. Inter struggled to respond effectively and fell further behind just nine minutes later.

A well-placed cross from Dodô found Kean, who expertly headed the ball past Sommer, doubling Fiorentina’s lead.

As the match approached its conclusion, Inter’s hopes of a comeback dwindled. In the 89th minute, a defensive error by Federico Dimarco allowed Kean to seize the opportunity, scoring his second goal of the match and sealing a comprehensive victory for Fiorentina.

This result marked the end of Inter’s impressive 17-game unbeaten streak in the league and also left them in second place, three points behind Napoli, while Fiorentina climbed to fourth place.

Inter will have the chance for revenge when the sides meet again on Monday at San Siro.

“Congratulations to Fiorentina. It’s a deserved defeat; we didn’t put anything on the field between running, aggression, and determination,” said the Inter manager, Simone Inzaghi.

“Now is not the time to make dramas but it is a defeat that hurts for how it came and how it has matured,” Inzaghi told Dazn.

“Now we will have three and a half days before meeting Fiorentina again. Today we didn’t put on the field what we always put in … only work can get us out of this situation.”

Ferran Torres led Barcelona to a commanding 5-0 victory over Valencia in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. The match, held in Torres’ hometown against his childhood club, saw him score a hat-trick within the first 30 minutes.

He opened the scoring early with a goal from a swift counterattack in the second minute, followed by a rebound strike in the 17th minute after Lamine Yamal‘s shot hit the post. Fermín López added the third goal five minutes later, and Torres capped off his impressive first half with a powerful shot from the edge of the box, making it 4-0 at the half-hour mark.

Yamal later sealed the rout with a fifth goal in the 52nd minute, as Barcelona maintained control of the match.

Post-match, Torres expressed his respect for Valencia, stating, “I wish Valencia the best of luck because outside the pitch I’m just another fan.” He refrained from celebrating his goals out of respect for the club that shaped his early career, acknowledging the difficult times they are currently facing.

Other Copa del Rey quarter-finals Results

In another quarter-final match, Real Sociedad secured a 2-0 victory against Osasuna. Ander Barrenetxea played a crucial role, scoring the opener in the 21st minute after a well-executed move.

The second goal came shortly after, capitalizing on a defensive error by Osasuna’s goalkeeper, Sergio Herrera. The match saw a significant moment when a yellow card was issued to Osasuna’s Alejandro Catena, who was upgraded to a red card after VAR intervention for a dangerous challenge.

With these results, Barcelona and Real Sociedad join heavyweights Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals, with the draw set to take place on February 12.