viola nation 
18-04-2024 20:56
18-04-2024 20:56
Fiorentina 2-0 Viktoria Plzeň: Match report and highlights
Vincenzo Italiano brought Nico González, Arthur, Dodô, and Nikola Milenković back into the side. Giacomo Bonaventura was slated to start but picked up a late injury. Miroslav Koubek trotted out the same XI he did last week, so no surprises there.
First half
The match immediately settled into a predictable pattern: Fiorentina dominated possession and territory while Viktoria Plzeň hung on like grim death. Andrea Belotti had a great chance early but Martin Jedlička made a fine stop, and Christian Kouamé’s followup header was cleared off the line. Kouamé was next denied by an absolutely incredible save by the Czech goalkeeper, while Belotti hammered a header off the post. Kouamé was triply unlucky as his brilliant first touch and shot rocketed off the frame of the goal again. Really, it was entirely one-way traffic as Viktoria Plzeň’s only shot was an effort from distance that was blocked.
Second half
The visitors were slightly more positive after the break but the hosts were still clearly on top. Rolando Mandragora almost scored the goal of the decade with a spinning, juggling leadup to an overhead kick that fizzed just over. The moment of drama came with a helping of VAR as Cadu stomped on the back of Dodô’s ankle, earning a straight red. Even so, a grimly dogged Viktoria Plzeň held on despite a succession of half chances as Fiorentina pinned them back but couldn’t find the finish.
Extra time
Lucas Martínez Quarta replaced Rolando Mandragora as Vincenzo Italiano switched to a back 3 and the move paid immediate dividens. LMQ smashed a shot on frame within seconds of the restart, winning a corner from which Nico González (of course) tracked down the loose ball in the area, pivoted, and lashed home for the most cathartic opener hte Viola have seen all year. Viktoria Plzeň was obviously out of gas but gamely threw a couple extra bodies forward. As a result, Jonathan Ikoné galloped away on the counter, leading a 5-v-1 break and rolling it to Cristiano Biraghi to slot home. The hosts just passed it around for the rest of the game as the fans partied in the stands. It was fun. Remember what that is?
Full time
Goals: González 92’, Biraghi 108’ (ass. Ikoné)
Cards: Ranieri 36’, González 97’; Chorý 37’, Cadu red card 67’, Řezník 74’
Stats What’s next
Fiorentina gets the one of Club Brugge or PAOK in the semifinal. The Belgians lead 1-0 on aggregate at the time of writing, but the game’s already started in Thessaloniki and could change at any time. Regardless, a second consecutive semifinal is a remarkable achievement and marks just the second time the club’s made back-to-back semis in a major European competition (sorry, Mitropa). No matter how painful the journey was or what comes next, that’s worth celebrating.
That celebration may need to wait a bit, as the Viola return to league play on Sunday with a trip south to Salerno for a clash with Salernitana before a quick turnaround head north to Bergamo for the second leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal against Atalanta. It’s an absurd pace and Italiano will need to rotate his side to keep everyone fresh, especially with so many players dealing with aches and injuries.
First half
The match immediately settled into a predictable pattern: Fiorentina dominated possession and territory while Viktoria Plzeň hung on like grim death. Andrea Belotti had a great chance early but Martin Jedlička made a fine stop, and Christian Kouamé’s followup header was cleared off the line. Kouamé was next denied by an absolutely incredible save by the Czech goalkeeper, while Belotti hammered a header off the post. Kouamé was triply unlucky as his brilliant first touch and shot rocketed off the frame of the goal again. Really, it was entirely one-way traffic as Viktoria Plzeň’s only shot was an effort from distance that was blocked.
Second half
The visitors were slightly more positive after the break but the hosts were still clearly on top. Rolando Mandragora almost scored the goal of the decade with a spinning, juggling leadup to an overhead kick that fizzed just over. The moment of drama came with a helping of VAR as Cadu stomped on the back of Dodô’s ankle, earning a straight red. Even so, a grimly dogged Viktoria Plzeň held on despite a succession of half chances as Fiorentina pinned them back but couldn’t find the finish.
Extra time
Lucas Martínez Quarta replaced Rolando Mandragora as Vincenzo Italiano switched to a back 3 and the move paid immediate dividens. LMQ smashed a shot on frame within seconds of the restart, winning a corner from which Nico González (of course) tracked down the loose ball in the area, pivoted, and lashed home for the most cathartic opener hte Viola have seen all year. Viktoria Plzeň was obviously out of gas but gamely threw a couple extra bodies forward. As a result, Jonathan Ikoné galloped away on the counter, leading a 5-v-1 break and rolling it to Cristiano Biraghi to slot home. The hosts just passed it around for the rest of the game as the fans partied in the stands. It was fun. Remember what that is?
Full time
Goals: González 92’, Biraghi 108’ (ass. Ikoné)
Cards: Ranieri 36’, González 97’; Chorý 37’, Cadu red card 67’, Řezník 74’
Stats What’s next
Fiorentina gets the one of Club Brugge or PAOK in the semifinal. The Belgians lead 1-0 on aggregate at the time of writing, but the game’s already started in Thessaloniki and could change at any time. Regardless, a second consecutive semifinal is a remarkable achievement and marks just the second time the club’s made back-to-back semis in a major European competition (sorry, Mitropa). No matter how painful the journey was or what comes next, that’s worth celebrating.
That celebration may need to wait a bit, as the Viola return to league play on Sunday with a trip south to Salerno for a clash with Salernitana before a quick turnaround head north to Bergamo for the second leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal against Atalanta. It’s an absurd pace and Italiano will need to rotate his side to keep everyone fresh, especially with so many players dealing with aches and injuries.