Pre-match

Neither Cesare Prandelli nor Giovanni Stroppa did anything too crazy with their lineups. The real story was the rain, which came down so loudly that it drowned out the commentary at times.

First half

After Gaetano Castrovilli nutmegged Koffi Djidji on the wing and cut in, the Crotone defense was only able to clear it as far as Giacomo Bonaventura, who took a touch at the edge of the area and then looped a majestic volley into the far top corner for his first Fiorentina goal. It was worth the wait.

Castrovilli was again the engine that drove the attack forward, leaving Eduardo for dead as he jetted in from the wing again. This time, though, he played a perfect reverse pass for Franck Ribery, and the veteran squared it with his first touch for Dušan Vlahović to slot home from close range. It was pretty bad defending from the Squali but a really good team move.

Second half

Ricardo Pereira jinked his way into space down the right and lobbed in a cross to Simy, who was inexplicably unmarked on the back post to head home. Well worked and all that, but how in heaven’s name do you not notice Simy, of all people, lurking back there?

Full time

Goals: Bonaventura 20’, Vlahović 32’ (ass. Ribery); Simy 67’ (ass. Pereira)

Cards: Igor 4’, Ribery 41’; Zanellato 30’, Pereira 83’

What’s next

The win sees Fiorentina leapfrog Bologna and Udinese into 12th place with 21 points, although the Felsinei could pass them back up with a result at Juventus tomorrow. More than that, the win helps restore some shattered confidence after the horror show at Napoli last week. Crotone, meanwhile, remain at the bottom of the table and look like a lock for relegation.