Pre-match

With both managers facing injury crises, particularly up top, we got some rather wonky XIs. Cesare Prandelli had to start Borja Valero and Valentin Eysseric. Roberto D’Aversa switched shape to a 4-3-1-2 with Gervinho and Yann Karamoh up top while also starting ex-Fiorentina players Vincent Laurini and Jasmin Kurtić.

First half

Viola Nation got off to a flying start with a shoutout on the ESPN2 broadcast from Matteo Bonnetti, which has to be the first time that’s ever happened. Still reeling.

Lucas Martínez Quarta finally got his first Fiorentina and Serie A goal, for which he’s been desperately searching the past few weeks. The Argentina international got on the end of an Erick Pulgar free kick and headed home quite nicely.

Minutes later, Pulgar set one up on the other end, catching a ball with his hand as he went down in the box for a tackle. Juraj Kucka stepped up and slotted home despite Bartłomiej Drągowski guessing the right way.

[ed. note: I’ll add video when some becomes available.]

Nikola Milenković restored the lead with a spectacular volley after another Pulgar free kick made its way to Dušan Vlahović on the back post. The young Serbian headed the ball back across to his slightly larger and slightly older compatriot and Big Nihola did the rest.

Second half

Because the world hates you, ex-Viola man Jasmin Kurtić strolled past the miserable marking of Kévin Malcuit to tap home a deflected cross. And yes, you’d better believe that he celebrated against his former club. (I’ll get a video in there when I can find one, but Kurtić was three steps behind Malcuit when the ball was looped up and in if that gives you any idea.)

Were we done? Not even close. Substitutes Valentin Mihăilă and Roberto Inglese connected, with the latter squaring for the former to tap home.

[ed. note: I’ll add video when some becomes available.]

Oh, did you think we were done? Not a bit of it. Deep into stoppage time, Simone Iacoponi turned a loose ball into his own net after Germán Pezzella got to a late free kick and caused some mayhem in the box.

[ed. note: I’ll add video when some becomes available.]

Full time

Goals: Martínez Quarta 28’ (ass. Pulgar), Milenković 42’, Iacoponi OG 90’+3; Kucka PK 32’, Kurtić 72’, Mihăilă 90’ (ass. Inglese)

Cards: Kucka 56’, Giuseppe Pezzella 62’

What’s next

As frustrating as the result was, it’s probably not a terrible outcome in a vacuum as it leaves Fiorentina in 14th place on 26 points. With Torino losing to Crotone, that opens the gap even more between the Viola and the last relegation spot. Of course, with a tough run of fixtures coming up, it wouldn’t be shocking to see that cushion shrink very quickly, especially if Sofyan Amrabat’s injury proves to be serious. Parma, meanwhile, get to 16 points, leaving them 5 behind a suddenly-decent Cagliari and safety.