Yann Sommer starred between the sticks as Inter dispatched fellow Serie A top-four hopefuls Fiorentina 1-0 on Sunday to return to the top. The Swiss goalkeeper pulled off a crucial save to deny Nicolas Gonzalez’s penalty and keep his 18th clean sheet this season.
Talismanic captain Lautaro Martinez gave Inter an early lead with a thumping header. When it looked like Simone Inzaghi’s side would walk away from Tuscany unscratched, disaster struck. Referee Gianluca Aureliano awarded a penalty to Fiorentina over an incident involving Sommer and M’Bala Nzola.
Aureliano waved play on at first glance, but after reviewing the situation with VAR, he pointed to the spot. However, the veteran Inter shot-stopper redeemed himself with a perfect read as he waited for Gonzalez to make his move before falling to the ground to catch the ball with ease.
Speaking to the press, Sommer revealed he ‘studied’ Gonzalez’s style in the build-up, which helped him deny the Argentine with a routine save.
“It was a difficult situation. I was sure I touched it first, the referee decided like this,” the Inter keeper looked back at the incident, as quoted by TMW. “We study a lot before the game, so we know a little bit about what the player will do and we were ready.“
Optimism is at an all-time high around the Giuseppe Meazza camp after a fifth consecutive victory in all competitions. Brimming with confidence, Inter will take on Juventus in a top-table six-pointer next weekend.
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