Pre-match
Oliver Glasner trotted out his expected top XI. Paolo Vanoli, on the other hand, was without Moise Kean, Manor Solomon, Fabiano Parisi, and Niccolò Fortini but did get Dodô and Rolando Mandragora back from injury. Despite the absences, though, the visiting fans were in fine form, showing up over 1000 strong to help fill up Selhurst Park.
First half
Crystal Palace took control early and never really relinquished
it, keeping the ball at the back and probing down the wings to test Fiorentina’s fullbacks, who were both found wanting. The difference in physical ability was most notable to me: the hosts were stronger and faster, likely aided by a 3-week layoff that left them much fresher than the visitors, who were more than a bit ragged. There were warning signs as Evan Guessand and Daniel Muñoz both created problems and sure enough, it was Dodô who gave away a senseless penalty with a late slide on Guessand after the Ivorian had completely biffed a shot. The absolutely massive Jean-Philippe Mateta slotted home the spot kick for his first goal in 4 months.
Sensing weakness, Palace ramped up the intensity and kept pushing, forcing de Gea into action. The goalkeeper did well, too, on the inevitable second goal. Muñoz slipped past the defense and tried an audacious volley which Mateta tracked down; he must’ve thought he had a brace with the simplest of back post tap-ins but de Gea got across to deny him. Unfortunately, Tyrick Mitchell ran right past Jack Harrison and scrambled it home to double the lead, leaving Dave understandably furious with his defense.
There wasn’t any change after the second goal. It was one way traffic: Fiorentina technically had more possession (53%) but just 2 shots (both off target) to Palace’s 9. The difference in quality was so obvious as to approach hilarity. There wasn’t any way for Vanoli to mitigate the gulf in talent and I almost pitied him having to give a halftime talk to “inspire” a team that doubtless knew it was vastly outclassed.
Second half
After a delay to clear the pitch of a deluge of toilet paper from the home fans that a single unfortunate steward spent 5 minutes trying to clear up as more and more rolls flew from the stands (an apt analogy), Fiorentina sort of vaguely improved, creating a handful of chances, but I’ve got to be honest: never once did I think the Viola would pull one back as Albert Guðmundsson and Roberto Piccoli spurned opportunities. The Eagles visibly switched off but this toothless bunch of doofuses (doofi?) never looked like punishing them. In fact, the hosts weren’t all that interested in ending the game but finally decided to grab a third to put it to bed, and Ismäila Sarr’s header was absolutely superb.
Full time
Goals: Mateta PK 24’, Guessand 32’, Sarr 90’ (ass. Kamada)
Cards: Richards 76’; Dodô 21’, Piccoli 69’ (nice)
What we learned
-Everyone talks about how much better the Premier League is than any other division and games like this only confirm it. Sure, Palace had 3 weeks off to rest and get healthy and also didn’t have any significant absences but the difference in physical ability was eye-popping.
-Vanoli’s only real chance to keep this job was to win the Conference League so that’s pretty well off the books. The hunt for a new coach starts now even though that’s an unfair reflection on the mister’s excellent work this year.
-I really don’t think there’s much you can get out of a game like this. The Viola were so obviously worse than their conquerors that any analysis beyond “good players are better than bad players” is pointless.
-With Aston Villa thumping Bologna 1-3 at the dell’Ara, it sure looks like Italy’s high water mark in Europe this year is the quarterfinals. Ouch.
-Debut alert! Primavera winger Giorgio Puzzoli made his first senior appearance. Woohoo.
What’s next
Vanoli will try to regather his side for Monday’s game against Lazio. That one’s probably meaningless too: the only Serie A game that matters now is the 6-pointer against Lecce, as a win will likely secure safety and might even consign Pantaleo Corvino’s boys to Serie B. The priority now is on keeping key players healthy and rested the rest of the way and maybe trying to start figuring out which way to go next year.
By the way, Albert Guðmundsson and Nicolò Fagioli are suspended for Monday’s clash. With Kean, Solomon, Parisi, and Fortini struggling for fitness, Vanoli’s running out of options. I wouldn’t be shocked if he threw in the towel in the return leg and trotted out the teenagers. Luis Balbo, Riccardo Braschi, Eddy Kouadio, and Riccardo Braschi are on notice.
