Pre-match
Neither Alberto Aquilani nor Paolo Vanoli sprang any surprises. It was all according to the script, not least the Mapei reaching a stunning 25% capacity. Apparently an early afternoon game between 15th and 17th wasn’t enough to get the holiday crowds out. In fairness, these two aren’t exactly all saints; I’d say there’s more than a touch of the demonic about this edition of Fiorentina in particular.
First half
Both sides tried to stamp their physicality into this one early but mostly accomplished nothing more
than a series of collisions. Eventually, though, it became clear that Sassuolo was the better team by virtue of possessing something resembling a coherent attacking structure. The Viola midfield couldn’t generate anything and looked as rickety as it has in the Commisso era. That might’ve been due to some heavy legs but probably had more to do with the general cheeksness of the squad. That cheeksness was on display when Nicolò Fagioli coughed up the ball in midfield. Two passes later, Armand Laurienté was through on goal and finished past an indecisive David de Gea.
There wasn’t much of a fightback. Fiorentina kept grinding the gears as it tried to get out of second but never succeeded; against a better side than Sassuolo, this could’ve been done by halftime. The Neroverdi kept working the ball around neatly but didn’t play with much urgency, seeming safe in the knowledge that a one-goal lead was insurmountable. That’s how it looked until stoppage time, when Mateo Pellegrino rolled home an Alieu Njie cross. It was far from an aesthetically pleasing goal but it handed the visitors new life.
Second half
Much to everyone’s disgust, Vanoli didn’t make a single change at the break. The grousing that ensued dried up very quickly when Njie suddenly zipped infield and unleashed a stunning strike that left Stefano Turati rooted to the spot. It was the second game in a row the Swede had found the back of the net and maybe he’s getting untracked. It’s also fair to sat that maybe, just maybe, the mister knows what he’s doing.
The goal did more than hand Fiorentina a surprising lead: it shifted the emotional balance of the game. Sassuolo still felt dangerous going forward but its vulnerabilities were amplified and the Viola produced a number of dangerous counterattacks which failed to pay off even as the hosts knocked on the door. It was probably great for the neutral but distinctly nervewracking for fans, particularly those of us who know that Fiorentina’s always got a dumb mistake in it. And guess what? That dumb mistake arrived in the form of Alex Jimenez, who switched off and let Armand Laurienté past him, then biffed his chance at a recovery tackle, then watched the Frenchman smash it past de Gea from a tight angle.
Back at level pegging, both teams scuffled a bit without creating a whole lot, although it was once again the Neroverdi who looked marginally more dangerous. It felt like somebody needed to show a moment of quality and right on cue, Vanoli brought on Pedro Gonçalves. The Portuguese winger had the composure to find Mastantuono at the top of the box and Franky did the rest, sweeping home a lovely finish for what we all hoped was the winner.
Having taken the lead for the second time, Fiorentina seemed more resolute. Pote showed his class a few more times to set up Mastantuono but the Argentine couldn’t complete the brace. Sassuolo threw everything forward but couldn’t break through and Fiorentina had a couple chances to end it before Cher Ndour set it for Víctor Valdepeñas to score his first senior and Viola goals, putting the game to bed.
Full time
Goals: Laurienté 25’ (ass. Esposito) 65’ (ass. Matić); Pellegrino 45’+2 (ass. Njie), Njie 50’ (ass. Brescianini), Mastantuono 79’ (ass. Gonçalves)
Cards: Sulemana 40’, Kulla 90’+4; Drǎgușin 42’, Njie 44’, Gnonto 90’+1
Quick hits
-Vanoli comes in for plenty of criticism but he instilled the necessary doggedness for the team here. These guys gritted through a bad first half, came out with an unearned goal, and then pushed through. That’s the sort of mindset that makes a difference and it’s what makes the mister a good coach.
-Pote’s good, man. He’s a cut above everyone else in terms of open play creativity. Maybe his fitness isn’t up to snuff or whatever but he’s obviously Fiorentina’s most creative attacker.
-I don’t know if Fagioli’s new haircut has changed his neural pathways but this marks the second straight terrible outing for him. Maybe he just needs a break.
-David de Gea’s still capable of extraordinary saves but he’s leaking in more and more goals too. I wonder if this will be his last year as the starter.
What’s next
The win propels Fiorentina out of the relegation places and into 15th, just as heseemsnice predicted. It’s Fiorentina’s first win since mopping the floor with Pisa back in September in the Coppa Italia and just the team’s second victory in Serie A. After a few promising performances that didn’t result in 3 points, getting rewarded here feels very important, especially with the all-important Juventus match looming at the weekend. For now, though, let’s just bask a little bit.
