At Artemio Franchi, Fiorentina defeated Milan in a dominating way. La Viola controlled the whole game in both halfs, Gonzales and Jovic scored two crucial goals for the win. While Hernandez scored for Milan in the last minute.
Fiorentina made two adjustments to the lineup from the 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona on Monday. Aleksa Terzic’s injury forced Biraghi back into the left back position, and Bonaventura took Barak’s place in the middle of the field.
From the starting lineup that defeated Atalanta 2-0 last weekend, Milan made three changes. Bennacer was able to make a comeback from injury thanks to Rade Krunic’s suspension, and Brahim Diaz’s minor discomfort in practise allowed Rebic to start the match against his former team. The final substitution took place in the front line, where De Ketelaere took the place of Rafael Leao, who was absent due to a buildup of yellow cards.
Cabral was beaten in the footrace by Maignan after Mandragora lifted a left-footed pass down the field for him. However, the goalkeeper unexpectedly threw the ball directly out of play for a Fiorentina throw.
Biraghi’s early corner had Bonaventura at the far post, but Tomori was able to deflect it before Maignan finally got possession of the ball. Igor was unable to direct Biraghi’s second corner kick attempt goalward, and the ball rolled out for a Milan throw-in on the opposite side.
Bonaventura played Ikone into the penalty area with a lovely pass around the corner, but a retreating Thiaw prevented the winger from cutting inside and conceded a corner.
On the edge of his own 18-yard box, Thiaw lost possession of the ball and stuck out a leg to impede Cabral, resulting in a free kick. The defender received a yellow card as well, despite being mere millimetres from giving up a penalty.
Davide Astori, the captain of Fiorentina and the player wearing number 13, was given a standing ovation when the game was stopped in the 13th minute. Five years have passed since the tragic passing of the center-back, who also played for Italy.
Gonzalez attempted to beat Maignan with a left-footed shot to the near post, but the goalkeeper was up to the challenge and deflected it for yet another corner for Fiorentina.
Gonzalez was given a chance when Kalulu misjudged the ball’s trajectory, but Milan’s goalkeeper was once more alert and quick off his line to support his defender and regained possession.
After Gonzalez played a beautiful first-time pass through the lines to open up the Milan defence and played Mandragora into the penalty area, a fluid Fiorentina attack ended in a scramble. The midfielder passed it to Bonaventura, who took a step back and fired an off-balance shot past Maignan. Until Tomori, who was falling, intervened and managed to scuff it clear, it appeared to be a certain goal.
The first opportunity of the game for Milan came when Bennacer cut inside from the right before playing a beautiful cross to Giroud at the far post. The attacker responded to it in signature fashion with a beautiful left-footed volley, but Terracciano knelt low to make the necessary block.
Cabral attempted to take advantage of the lack of players in Milan’s half by playing a forward pass to Bonaventura early in the game, but the Fiorentina midfielder was never going to be able to outmuscle Kalulu, who calmly played it back to his goalkeeper.
Ikone skillfully manoeuvred around Tomori on the wing and entered the penalty area using the space that opened up. As the center-back attempted to regain his position, the wide forward went down and looked to the referee, who immediately pointed to the spot. Gonzalez took the opportunity and calmly converted his penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
On the edge of the six-yard box, Giroud met a corner kick from the left of Rebic and headed the ball towards the goal. Terracciano had quick reflexes and was able to parry the ball away to keep the hosts ahead.
Rebic attempted to beat Terracciano with a slow-rolling shot from 20 yards out, but the goalkeeper again reacted quickly and smothered the ball at his near post.
When Rebic entered the penalty area, De Ketelaere played a beautiful ball into the channel for him as he moved forward in possession, but Igor quickly stripped Rebic of the ball with a perfectly timed sliding challenge.
The Milan captain received a beautiful long ball from Kalulu that was played towards the Fiorentina penalty area. After taking a touch, the captain fired a shot towards goal, but Terracciano was there to block it.
Giroud was a step behind the delivery when Messias teased a low, centering cross through the feet of a defender towards the six-yard box, so the Rossoneri’s opportunity was lost.
Gonzalez was the 5th participant in the game to receive a warning. The referee had no choice but to flag the forward for a booking after witnessing his late, sliding tackle on Kalulu.
Before passing it to Gonzalez, Bonaventura moved forward using the room in the middle of the field. The winger took a touch to pass it to Biraghi, but Hernandez at the far post cleared the full-subsequent back’s cross.
Cabral deflected a Milan corner that Saelemaekers attempted to swing into the penalty area in search of Ibrahimovic. Evidently believing that the striker had touched the ball with his hand, the referee whistled and pointed to the spot. He reversed his choice and forced a restart of the game after making a quick check on the VAR screen.
Gonzalez and Kalulu compete for the ball as it becomes loose, with the Fiorentina forward falling five yards from the Milan penalty area. The Milan center-back was issued a yellow card after the referee blew his whistle and gave the home team a free kick.
When Jovic was at the far post, Dodo picked him up on the right wing and the Serbian international dove to put a close-range header past Maignan giving La Viola a 2-0 win.
Just before the penalty area, Saelemaekers spotted a small opening and sprinted into it before laying a pass off to his left for Hernandez. The Milan captain grabbed the pass and fired a rocket into the goal to cut the deficit in half.
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