Parma 1-2 Fiorentina: Highlights

Pre-match

Parma manager Roberto d’Aversa slotted Yann Karamoh in at striker, adding even more pace to an attack that didn’t lack it, in hopes of troubling Fiorentina on the break after seeing what Jeremie Boga and Grégoire Defrel did the the rearguard last week. Fiorentina mister Giuseppe Iachini benched stars Federico Chiesa, Gaetano Castrovilli, and Bartłomiej Drągowski, among many others, after some very poor performances last time out.

First half

Venuti won the most obvious penalty you’ll ever see when he left Riccardo Gagliolo for dead off the dribble and the Crociati leftback had no choice but to hack him down from behind in the box. Erick Pulgar stepped up and slotted home the penalty without any trouble, sending Luigi Sepe the wrong way.

The second penalty was tougher. Germán Pezzella got his head to a free kick ahead of a leaping Matteo Darmian; the ball glanced against the Gialloblu fullback’s arm, and a VAR check later, Pulgar again sent Sepe the wrong way. It was harsh on Parma and emphasizes the need to change the current handball rule, but the decision was in line with the laws of the game.

Second half

In what felt like a make-up call for the second penalty (which again was harsh but correct), referee Antonio Damato called Pezzella for a high arm on a header as he scrapped with Juraj Kucka in the area while both players put hands on each other’s shoulders. Kucka took the penalty himself and blasted it home.

Full time

Goals: Kucka pk 50’; Pulgar pk 19’, pk 31’

Cards: Brugman 37’, Kulusevski 37’, Kucka 41’, Kurtić 79’; Venuti 32’, Pezzella 49’, Igor 52’, Milenković 63’, Cutrone 79’, Sottil 90’+4