Fiorentina 1-0 Lazio: Gosens’ Header Ends Biancocelesti’s Positive Run | OneFootball

At the Artemio Franchi in Florence, Fiorentina prevailed over their visitors, Lazio, in a cagey affair that was decided by a solitary goal.

Fiorentina & Lazio Starting Lineups

Due to the Viola’s Conference League commitment, Paolo Vanoli heavily rotated his lineup. Roberto Piccoli led the 4-3-3 formation, flanked by Jacobo Fazzini and Jack Harrison. In the middle of the park, Rolando Mandragora operated between Giovanni Fabbian and Che Ndour.

Between compulsory changes and tactical decisions, Maurizio Sarri’s lineup featured six different faces compared to the team that drew against Parma. Manuel Lazzari replaced the injured Adam Marusic at right-back, joining Nuno Tavares, Alessio Romagnoli, and Oliver Provstgaard in the defensive line. Patric reclaimed the Regista role, supported by Toma Basic and Kenneth Taylor.

The Lazio manager changed the entire attacking trident. Boulaye Dia spearheaded the line in the absence of Daniel Maldini, while Matteo Cancellieri replaced Gustav Isaksen. The most pleasant surprise was Mattia Zaccagni’s return from the get-go.

Robin Gosens Gives Fiorentina the Lead

Lazio started the contest on a positive note. Dia set up a chance for the unmarked Zaccagni, who tried to curl it past David De Gea, but the legendary goalkeeper pulled off a spectacular save. The Spaniard then easily dealt with Cancellieri’s tame effort from close range.

Nevertheless, Fiorentina gradually grew with the game. Piccoli threatened on a couple of occasions, but it was Robin Gosens who opened the scoring in the 28th minute. The German left-back rose above Lazzari to meet Harrison’s cross from the right side, and while his header wasn’t the most powerful, it sailed past Edoardo Motta before and hit the inside of the post on its way to the net.

Lazio Denied Penalty Kick Despite VAR Check

After the break, Sarri rang the changes in the hopes of finding the equalizer, but they hardly managed to create genuince chances. In the 65th minute, Tijjani Noslin fell inside the penalty box following a collision with Mandragora. Michael Fabbri gave the Dutchman a yellow card for simulation, but the VAR summoned him for an on-field check.

While these incidents often result in a spot-kick, the match official wasn’t convinced, insisting that the Fiorentina midfielder didn’t foul the Lazio attacker, so his initial decision was upheld.

Lazio’s Unbeaten Run Comes to an End

Gustav Isaksen’s introduction added some flair to the right flank. The Dane picked up Noslin with a sublime cross, but the latter couldn’t direct his header goalwards. In the final minutes of the game, the Viola managed to frustrate their visitors by maintaining possession around the corner flag, and they almost scored through Ndour, whose shot whistled past the post.

Pedro then tested De Gea with a long-range effort, but the Man United legend was able to gather and preserve a precious win for the Tuscans, who managed to put some daylight between them and the relegation zone. On the other hand, Lazio saw their four-match unbeaten run come to an end, but they remain 9th in the league.

Fiorentina 1-0 Lazio

Goal: 28′ Gosens (F)

Fiorentina (4-3-3): De Gea; Dodo, Rugani (71′ Pongracic), Ranieri, Gosens (80′ Balbo); Mandragora, Ndour, Fabbian; Harrison, Piccoli, Fazzini (84′ Solomon). 

Lazio (4-3-3): Motta; Lazzari, Romagnoli, Provstgaard, Nuno Tavares; Basic (46′ Dele-Bashiru), Patric, Taylor (79′ Ratkov); Cancellieri (68′ Isaksen), Dia (68′ Pedro), Zaccagni (46′ Noslin). 

Referee: Fabbri (Ravenna section); Linesmen: Vecchi – Zingarelli; 4th Official: Perri; VAR: Paterna; AVAR: Aureliano

Yellow cards: 31′ Rugani (F), 64′ Noslin (L), 81′ Dodò (F), 91′ Piccoli (F), 94′ Pedro (L).