The Viola badly needed a boost after managing just one Serie A victory in 2024, two draws and four defeats. Lucas Martinez-Quarta was out with a muscular problem, joining Dodo, Oliver Christensen and Gaetano Castrovilli on the treatment table, while Christian Kouame was hospitalised this week after contracting malaria at AFCON. Lazio were fresh from a 2-0 win away to Torino, but Mario Gila was suspended, with Gil Patric and Nicolò Rovella injured.
Only two points separated these teams going in and it was the first match since restructuring work started at the Stadio Franchi, reducing the capacity to 30,000.
Adam Marusic got in the way of a flick from a corner, but the hosts had an extraordinary double chance at the 18th minute. First the Nico Gonzalez angled drive was fingertipped onto the base of the far post, then Giacomo Bonaventura looked like he had to tap in the rebound, only to be denied by a desperate Nicolò Casale goal-line clearance.
Moments later, Andrea Belotti’s header from a corner thumped the same upright and Provedel parried the Riccardo Sottil follow-up.
Incredibly they hit the woodwork for a third time before half-time, Nico Gonzalez flicking on the Cristiano Biraghi corner to strike the near post from point-blank range.
Instead, Lazio were absolutely clinical to score with their first genuine chance of the game on the stroke of half-time. Gustav Isaksen surged forward from midfield, Ciro Immobile spread it down the right for Matteo Guendouzi, who rolled across for the Luis Alberto finish from 12 yards. It was the midfielder’s first Serie A goal since October 22.
Nico Gonzalez blasted over from distance and Provedel parried a Luca Ranieri glancing header on yet another corner.
Fiorentina finally got an equaliser on the hour mark, although even here they managed to hit the woodwork, as a Belotti cross from the left went past Beltran to find Kayode at the back post to fire in off the underside of the crossbar.
Moments later, the referee pointed to the spot when Lazio lost the ball playing out from the back and Belotti turned, going over Casale’s leg. However, Nico Gonzalez stepped up and confirmed the general theme of the night by firing the penalty against the upright.
Nonetheless, Fiorentina managed to turn the game around, as Provedel saw Beltran’s strike from distance at the last moment after players in front of him ducked, so could only parry it into the path of Bonaventura.
Mattia Zaccagni had an effort charged down and in stoppages Matias Vecino fired over from a promising position.
Fiorentina 2-1 Lazio
Luis Alberto 45 (L), Kayode 61 (F), Bonaventura 69 (F)
Missed penalty: Nico Gonzalez 67 (F)
