Fiorentina unable to mirror European form with away draw to Lecce
Kick-off was delayed due to lingering flare smoke, and there was soon further Fiorentina frustration as Luka Jovic was forced off injured after just seven minutes.
Lameck Banda carved out a superb opportunity for I Giallorossi as his cross found Assan Ceesay inside the six-yard box, although the frontman somehow headed wide.
Ceesay then had a chance to get behind Fiorentina’s backline but his poor touch allowed Lucas Martinez Quarta to recover and make an impressive challenge.
After already getting away with some questionable moments, Wladimiro Falcone was given the biggest reprieve of all in the 38th minute. An appalling punch attempt saw the ball bounce off Federico Bascgirotto for Arthur Cabral to head home before the goal was ruled out due to Giacomo Bonaventura being offside in the build-up.
Ceesay finally took his moment of glory shortly before the break by getting ahead of Igor Julio to capitalise on Joan Gonzalez’s superb work and tap home the opener.
Cabral converted again moments later but the ball had gone out before Antonin Barák crossed it in.
It took just three second-half minutes for La Viola to equalise, as Cabral’s dinked pass was superbly headed in off the post by Christian Kouame.
Ceesay had yet another big opportunity from Gabriel Strefezza’s delightful cross but headed wide again. Fiorentina were looking far more confident after their equaliser and Martinez Quarta’s shot from range forced Falcone into a brilliant stop.
Having put in so much positive work throughout the evening, Strefezza was also wasteful with his head after Antonino Gallo had delivered a wonderful cross.
Bizarrely, Gallo got himself sent off for two bookable offences in two minutes during stoppage-time, as Lecce played out their fifth draw from their last eight matches.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina have just one win from their last nine in Serie A, with their eight goals in two UEFA Europa Conference League matches against Heart of Midlothian equaling their entire league tally this term.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Christian Kouame (Fiorentina)
