| Zlatan Ibrahimovic created both goals as Inter extend their lead at the top of the table by beating title contenders Fiorentina. This was a top of the table tussle and the home side welcomed back Adrian Mutu and Tomas Ujfalusi from injury, although Dainelli pulled out in the warm-up and Riccardo Montolivo sat out a ban. Inter were without Luis Figo, Patrick Vieira and Cesar Aparecido. Roberto Mancini made his return to Florence, where he had taken them to the Coppa Italia in 2001.
It was an emotional day at the Stadio Franchi, as Cesare Prandelli returned to work for the first time since the tragic death of his wife Manuela on Monday. He was greeted by a standing ovation from the entire stadium and he gathered white flowers thrown on to the field. A minute's absolute silence was held before kick-off for the woman who had been married to the Fiorentina Coach for 26 years and the fans unveiled a banner across the Curva: 'Time will lessen the pain, but if you need her, look to the sky... Your star will guide you forever and take you far.'
Adrian Mutu volleyed a Marco Donadel assist wide of the upright, but Inter took the lead with former Viola player Luis Jimenez. Given his chance after a fine performance and goal midweek in the Champions League, the Chilean placed a precise angled drive past Frey from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's assist. Mutu should have equalised, but he scuffed the volley, then a pile of Inter players charged down his next two efforts in quick succession. Julio Cesar got down well to block a Franco Semioli header and then fingertipped Giampaolo Pazzini's effort round the post. Sebastien Frey got down for a fingertip save on Ibrahimovic's low drive from the edge of the area, while Inter had penalty appeals for Donadel's challenge on Jimenez. Inter lost Olivier Dacourt to injury, introducing Maxwell, who tested Frey from distance. Julio Cesar smothered a Mutu free kick, but Inter gained in stature and doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Ibrahimovic inspired, Julio Cruz finalised by stroking the ball into the bottom far corner with the inside of his right foot. Former Nerazzurri hero Christian Vieri replaced Pazzini for the second half, while Martin Jorgensen took over from Zradko Kuzmanovic. Vieri seemed to inject new belief into the side and his right-foot volley flashed across the face of goal. Frey had a spectacular duel with Ibra, as the Frenchman parried both a left and right-foot shot from point-blank range in the space of five seconds. Soon after, the two did battle again, Frey sticking out a strong hand to deny the Swede. Alessandro Gamberini charged down a Cruz strike inside the box, then David Suazo and Maicon combined down the right only for Ibra to just miss the header. Vieri nodded over late on, but although Fiorentina tried to push forward, Inter were in control. In stoppages Julio Cesar kept a clean sheet with a miraculous save, sticking out a trailing foot to deflect Semioli's header. | 
