Inter's losing streak extended to their worst in Serie A in six years with a 1-0 defeat to Fiorentina at San Siro on Saturday.

Giacomo Bonaventura's second-half header was enough to down Simone Inzaghi's side, inflicting a third consecutive defeat upon the Nerazzurri.

The game's only goal came shortly after a woeful miss from Romelu Lukaku, failing to hit the target with the goal gaping from inside the six-yard box.

Inter came closest to an equaliser when Nicolo Barella struck the crossbar from long range but failed to restore parity and suffered their 10th league defeat of the season.

Andre Onana was called into action with a diving save to keep out Gaetano Castrovilli's bouncing volley, the goalkeeper then staying alert to the danger to quickly punch away the loose ball before Arthur Cabral could pounce on the rebound.

Fiorentina's Jonathan Ikone had the best chance of the half seven minutes before the interval with the goal at his mercy but failed to connect with the ball after Riccardo Saponara's scuffed shot fell into his path.

After the break, it was Inter's turn to spurn a glorious opportunity, Lukaku just yards from goal with Pietro Terracciano out of the picture but only able to slice a poor effort wide of the mark after Alessandro Bastoni put the ball on a plate for the striker.

Inter were made to pay for that missed chance, Cabral flicking on a corner at the near post that Onana palmed away, only for Bonaventura to nod in the rebound and give the visitors the lead.

Barella led Inter's search for an equaliser, firing a ferocious effort at goal that had Terracciano beaten but cannoned back off the crossbar, with later appeals for a penalty for a foul on Lautaro Martinez waved away and the referee's decision upheld after a VAR check.

What does it mean? Inter's slump continues

At one stage looking like Napoli's closest competitors, albeit still way adrift of the runaway leaders, Inter's loss of form has opened the door for their rivals to catch up in the hunt for Champions League qualification.

Inzaghi's side now sit just two points above Milan and Atalanta, the former holding a game in hand, with Jose Mourinho's Roma handed the opportunity to pull level on points if they beat Sampdoria on Sunday.

History makes for bleak reading, with Inter failing to qualify for the Champions League in the 15 previous seasons where they have had nine or more defeats at this stage.

Lukaku's woe

Unable to rekindle the devastating form he enjoyed in his previous spell with Inter, Lukaku's performance against Fiorentina summed up the miserable campaign he is enduring.

No Inter player had more shots than Lukaku's three, the Belgian finishing the game with an xG of 1.18 but failing to have a single effort on target.

Bonaventura pulling the strings

The former Milan midfielder shone on his return to San Siro, his goal capping off an impressive display.

No player on either side had more chances created (four) or passes in the final third (nine), while only Cabral (five) had more attempts than Bonaventura's four.

What's next?

Inter face a gruelling test against Juventus in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on Tuesday, with Fiorentina away to Cremonese in the same competition a day later.