It was a night that Fiorentina fans will not forget easily at the Artemio Franchi Stadium. The Viola inflicted Milan their first Serie A loss as they had the upper hand in a seven-goal drama where Dusan Vlahovic and Zlatan Ibrahimovic stole the stage with a brace each.
From spectacular goals like the one conjured by Riccardo Saponara to incredible blunders (…did anybody say Ciprian Tatarusanu?), the Saturday night match had it all so let’s take a look at how the Fiorentina and Milan contenders fared according to our player ratings.
Fiorentina XI
Pietro Terracciano – 6.5
Couldn’t do anything on Milan’s three goals, he still kept the Rossoneri at bay in many other occasions.
Alvaro Odriozola – 6
The Spanish defender suffered a lot against Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez but, all in all, managed to hold his own.
Lorenzo Venuti – 6.5
Had to “invent” himself as a center back and did his job diligently. Was unlucky to concede a last-minute own-goal.
Igor Julio – 7
Another improvised center back, he did even better than his teammate Venuti. His physical presence was decisive to limit – for what possible – Ibrahimovic.
Cristiano Biraghi – 6
Had to face a Saelemaekers who was not in one of his best nights and that made his job easier.
Giacomo Bonaventura – 5
Scared his former team with a tricky shot in the first half, but must be blamed for giving Milan the chance to reopen a match that was virtually closed with a sloppy pass that triggered Ibra’s 1-3 goal.
Lucas Torreira – 7
The former Arsenal man was a restless dynamo. Fiorentina’s fourth and decisive goal was triggered by an intercept of his.
Duncan – 7.5
Coach Italiano lined him up instead of Castrovilli and was fully repaid. Was quick to pounce on the ball as Tatarusanu lost it to score Fiorentina’s first and propitiated the Viola third goal with a spectacular pass for Vlahovic.
José Callejon – 6
The former Napoli winger fought a lot but continues to have almost no impact as an attacker since joining the Viola.
Dusan Vlahovic – 8
Scored two goals that made a difference for Fiorentina. After a slight decline in performance over the past few weeks – perhaps prompted by the insisting transfer market rumors – the Serbian starlet re-took the stage right when facing his idol Zlatan Ibrahimovic. A night to remember.
Riccardo Saponara – 7
Another former Milan player, he sunk the club that never fully believed in him with a brilliant curl shot that turned into the best goal seen tonight at the Artemio Franchi Stadium.
Fiorentina Substitutes
Gaetano Castrovilli – 5.5
Not very incisive, he only picked up a yellow card.
Maleh – N/A
Nico Gonzales – 6.5
Played for only 20 minutes but was decisive in the action that led to Fiorentina’s 4-2 goal.
Milan XI
Ciprian Tatarusanu – 4
A couple of good saves cannot redeem him from the incredible mistake that prompted Fiorentina’s first goal. Reminded of the worst days of the worst Dida.
Pierre Kalulu – 6.5
The young and versatile Frenchman is showing more and more personality. Engaged in a spectacular duel with Saponara and came on top in many occasions.
Simon Kjaer – 6.5
Better as a provider than as a defender tonight. His crosses were Milan’s added weapon especially in the first half.
Matteo Gabbia – 4
A night to forget for the young center back who won a starting spot in view of Fikayo Tomori’s absence. He is to blame on both the first and the third Fiorentina goals.
Theo Hernandez – 5
The “usual” Theo Hernadez who is lethal when it comes to attacking from the left chain but often forgets the most basic concepts of defending. From a mistake of his, Fiorentina scored their fourth goal and got the game done and dusted.
Sandro Tonali – 6
A good performance for the Azzurri midfielder, even though with a bit more grit could have intercepted the pass that led to Saponara’s goal.
Franck Kessié – 6
Was the captain tonight and played an average game.
Alexis Saelemaekers – 5
The Belgian was far from his usual level of contribution and was bested by Saponara in the occasion of Fiorentina’s second goal.
Brahim Diaz – 5
Ibrahimovic did what he could to ignite him but the young Spaniard seems another person from the brilliant fantasista seen in the early season games.
Rafael Leao – 6.5
The mercurial winger run for most of the game and was a constant threat to the Viola defense. He left the pitch on 80 minutes succumbing only to cramps. Comparing to his previous seasons at Milan, he seems to have finally learn to fight until the end.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 7.5
Once again, the last man standing. In the first half he missed a chance unworthy of his name, but he literally resuscitated Milan in the second period, scoring two goals and propitiating Venuti’s own-goal that set the score at 3-4.
Milan Substitutes
Alessandro Florenzi – 5.5
Didn’t do what was expected from him as he failed to pose any threat from the right flank.
Ismael Bennacer – 6
His most notable contribution was a perfectly-timed slide tackle that defused a Vlahovic counterattack
Junior Messias – 5
The former Crotone man still seems a foreign body in Milan’s lineup.
Olivier Giroud – 5
Playing alongside Ibrahimovic for more than 30 minutes, the Frenchman was never incisive tonight.
Rade Krunic – N/A