FLORENCE, Italy — In a surprising turn of events, defending champions Inter Milan suffered a significant defeat, losing 3-0 to Fiorentina on Thursday night. This loss meant that Inter missed an opportunity to equalize points with the Serie A leaders. Moise Kean was the star for Fiorentina, scoring two goals after Luca Ranieri opened the scoring, ensuring the team’s victory and propelling Fiorentina to fourth place in the league standings.

Despite the defeat, Inter Milan remains in second place, yet they trail Napoli by three points. This match marked only the second loss for Inter in the current league season, a shocking result for the team that is typically at the top of the table.

This encounter was initially scheduled for December but had to be postponed when Fiorentina’s 22-year-old midfielder Edoardo Bove collapsed on the pitch. After a two-month hiatus following that deeply concerning incident, Bove made an appearance on the Fiorentina bench on Thursday to provide support for his teammates. His health scare resulted in the implantation of a heart defibrillator.

During the original match, Bove collapsed in the 16th minute, causing alarm among fans and players alike, as medical personnel rushed to the scene to assist him before transporting him to a hospital where he was placed in a medically induced coma.

Fiorentina has continued to honor Bove’s loan agreement from Roma, but he is expected to return to Rome at the end of the season. If his medical evaluations necessitate permanent use of the defibrillator, he may have to leave Italy to pursue his football career due to the country’s strict health regulations governing athletes.