Fiorentina 1-2 Lazio: Highlights

Pre-match

Vincenzo Montella sent out his ironclad XI, while Simone Inzaghi made some minor changes but kept most his lineup intact from the Europa League letdown against Celtic. Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso was in town for this one and got to the Franchi after watching the women’s side fall just short in the Supercoppa against Juventus.

First half

Manuel Lazzari made a brilliant run into the Viola box early on and went down under a Martín Cáceres challenge, but referee Marco Guida didn’t even bother to review it, leading to some fury from the Lazio players.

Following a terrible Milan Badelj giveaway, Ciro Immobile raced forward and played in Joaquin Correa, who rounded Bartłomiej Drągowski and slotted home. VAR decided the Argentine was onside, although it sure looked close.

Federico Chiesa cancelled that out with a marvelous finish to round off a brilliant Fiorentina counter attack that started with Dalbert winning the ball on his own endline and finished with Franck Ribery crossing for the young Italian to lash home first-time with his left.

Second half

Jordan Lukaku pretty blatantly fouled Riccardo Sottil on the wing to win the ball; when Guida didn’t whistle, the Belgian drove forward and crossed to an unmarked Immobile on the back post, who powered his header home. Again, this one sure seemed like a competent referee wouldn’t have let it stand, but with Guida on the pitch and Silvio Mazzoleni on the screen, the Viola weren’t afforded that luxury.

Luca Ranieri obviously handled a goal-bound shot from Luis Alberto to earn his second yellow in stoppage time, but Drągowski saved Felipe Caicedo’s spot kick.

[ed. note: we’ll update with video once we find one]

Expect to hear about a suspension for Ribery coming down shortly, too, for shoving a match official after the final whistle. That’s a dumb thing to do, Franck.

Full time

Goals: Correa 22’ (ass. Immobile), Chiesa 27’ (ass. Ribery), Immobile 89’ (ass. Lukaku), Caicedo PK saved by Drągowski 90’+6

Cards: Ranieri 41’ and 90’+5 (sent off), Castrovilli 68’, Pulgar 73’, Pezzella 90’+2, Luis Alberto 43’, Lulić 45’+1, Parolo 90’+4