Fiorentina Nic all three points from struggling Sassuolo
Sassuolo, on the back of becoming just the second team to lose to relegation favorites Sampdoria, were never the ones likely to sit back and accept home pressure. Following Nikola Milenković’s early effort that was averted by a defender, it was Roma transfer target Davide Frattesi who unleashed the first clear opportunity at goal for the visitors, only for Pietro Terracciano to fantastically parry it away with his fingertips.
The ex-Empoli keeper proved instrumental once again a few minutes later, denying Andrea Pinamonti a golden one-on-one chance with a charging save to keep the scores level. Having had enough of being on the back foot, Fiorentina saw more of the ball thereafter but failed to make a difference in the final-third going into the break. With seven of their last eight home league games producing the same FT result as HT, a sixth league draw was in the books for the hosts – one more than the entirety of last season.
Eager to bridge the 10-point gap to the top six, the Viola struck first blood immediately after the break, taking advantage of a lapse in concentration via Riccardo Saponara who lodged the ball into the right corner from inside the box. Alessio Dionisi’s men didn’t have to wait long though, striking back within ten minutes thanks to a well-taken penalty by Domenico Berardi after a handball in the box. Referee Gianluca Manganiello was in the spotlight once again a few moments later to hand yet another penalty to the Neroverdi, but instead ended up denying them, much to the relief of the hosts.
Both sides went at each other thereafter with all guns blazing in a bid to reverse their ominous fortunes, and Fiorentina were given a golden opportunity to snatch all three points late on after they were awarded a penalty following a lengthy VAR review for a handball. Despite Andrea Consigli’s earlier heroics, he couldn't keep out Gonzalez's calm spot-kick that handed Vincenzo Italiano’s men a first win against the visitors since 2017. Sassuolo now hang just two places above the relegation zone, whereas the Viola enter the top-half of standings with the victory.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Giacomo Bonaventura (Fiorentina)
