Brescia 0-0 Fiorentina: Highlights

Pre-match

With the rain coming down hard, Fiorentina were late getting to the Stadio Mario Rigamonti as the team bus got caught in a traffic jam. They arrived to find that Brescia boss Eugenio Corini had opted for ex-Viola man Romulo as the number 10, with Mario Balotelli only fit enough for the bench; young Frenchman Florian Ayé got the start up top instead. Vincenzo Montella kept his usual lineup, as Federico Chiesa recovered very speedily from a hip injury sustained on international duty.

First half

The Rondinelle almost got off to a dream start: Sandro Tonali stormed forward, over an Erick Pulgar challenge, and fed Alfredo Donnarumma on the left; the striker crossed for Ayé, who was completely unmarked at the back post and pinged his finish in off the post. Referee Gianpaolo Calvarese, however, checked with VAR, and with good reason, as Tonali gently but noticeably controlled the ball with his hand as he hurdled Pulgar. The goal was thus waved off.

Second half

Despite piling on the pressure, the Viola weren’t able to breach Jesse Joronen’s goal.

Full time

Goals: none

Cards: Pulgar 53’, Chiesa 66’, Ribery 77’