Fiorentina and Verona Share Spoils in Cagey Encounter

Fiorentina, Hellas Verona, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021 2 comments

At the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Fiorentina hosted Hellas Verona in the opening match of the 13th round of Serie A.

After a promising start to the match which saw both both sides scoring from the spot-kick in the opening 20 minutes – Miguel Veloso for the Gialloblu and Dusan Vlahović for the Viola – the encounter quickly turned into a dull affair, as the score remained 1-1, with very scoring opportunities to write about.

Fiorentina manager Cesare Prandelli started with a 3-5-2 lineup headed by Dušan Vlahović and the legendary Franck Ribery, supported by the midfield trio of Giacomo Bonaventura, Sofyan Amrabat and Gaetano Castrovilli.

On the other hand, Verona coach Ivan Jurić maintained his 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mattia Zaccagni and Darko Lazović playing behind lone striker Eddie Salcedo. Captain Miguel Veloso and Adrien Tameze took the double pivot roles.

The first action of the match came as early as the second minute, when the referee awarded Verona a penalty kick after a challenge from Antonio Barreca on Salcedo inside the Fiorentina box. After a stopped which lasted for about five minutes, VAR eventually confirmed the dubious spot-kick, and Veloso opened the scoring for his the Gialloblu, sending Bartłomiej Drągowski in the wrong direction.

Nonetheless, the home side were soon to be rewarded a spot kick of their own, when Koray Günter tripped Vlahovic inside the penalty box, and the young Serbian bomber converted it himself, scoring his second goal in as many matches.

However, the rest of the first half saw the two sides locked in a fruitless midfield battle, with not a single chance being created at either end, and three yellow cards being handed to Fiorentina’s Bonaventura, and Verona duo Federico Dimarco and Federico Ceccherini.

Unfortunately for the calcio fans watching at home, the second half picked up where the first had ended, with the goal scoring opportunities rarely being witnessed.

Hellas Verona had the chance to retake the lead at the 67th minute when substitute Omar Colley released Lazović with a brilliant vertical pass, however, the Polish Fiorentina goalkeeper was able to deny the effort.

The Viola had an opportunity of their own at the 84th minute. Cristiano Biraghi launched a free-kick which was directed by his captain German Pezzella into the path of Nikola Milenkovic, but the defender’s header went just wide.

In conclusion, Fiorentina and Hellas Verona played a dull draw, as both sides seemed content to take a point home. For the home side, it was their second draw in a row after their encounter with Sassuolo in midweek, while the visitors bounced back with a decent result after their surprising defeat at the hands of Sampdoria during the last round.

 

 

MATCH REPORT

December 19, 2020 – Serie A 2020-21 Round 13
FIORENTINA-VERONA 1-1

SCORERS: 8′ Veloso (V, pen.), 19′ Vlahovic (F, pen.)

FIORENTINA (3-5-2): Dragowski; Milenkovic, Pezzella, Igor; Venuti (59′ Lirola), Bonaventura (59′ Callejon), Amrabat, Castrovilli (86′ Cutrone), Barreca (59′ Biraghi); Ribery (84′ Borja Valero), Vlahovic (Terracciano, Quarta, Kouame, Saponara, Caceres, Montiel, Pulgar) Coach: Prandelli
VERONA (3-4-2-1): Silvestri; Dawidowicz, Günter (50′ Magnani), Ceccherini; Faraoni, Veloso, Tameze (70′ Ruegg), Dimarco; Zaccagni (78′ Yeboah), Lazovic (70′ Ilic); Salcedo (46′ Colley) (Berardi, Pandur, Lovato, Udogie, Cetin, Danzi, Bertini) Coach: Juric

REFEREE: Mr. Fourneau from Rome
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Bonaventura, Igor, Prandelli (F), Dimarco, Ceccherini, Juric (V); Extra Time: 1st Half 4′, 2nd Half 4′

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