Monza 0-1 Fiorentina: Match report and highlights

Pre-match

First half

It didn’t take long for Lucas Beltrán to open the scoring, although he didn’t have too much to do as Monza’s Michele Di Gregorio (who’s been perhaps Serie A’s best goalkeeper this year) passed one too close to him, and el Vikingo stuck out a leg and directed it into the empty net. It was one of the wackier goals you’ll see.

Because this is Fiorentina, it got wackier. Christian Kouamé poked one through for Jonathan Ikoné, who left Luca Caldirola for dead and then rounded Di Gregorio before his brain shut off in front of the open net, allowing Danilo D’Ambrosio to make the block. This is perhaps the highest xG chance not scored that you’ll ever see, but that’s just the magic of #ChaosJonny.

Monza had a couple of decent chances, all via Andrea Colpani, but it was the visitors who remained the better side both in and out of possession, controlling possession and mostly pinning the Biancorossi into their own half aside from a 10-minute period which the Viola weathered pretty calmly. Fiorentina probably deserved more of a lead, frankly, but it felt like the boys were well on their way.

Second half

Monza emerged looking energized and pushed Fiorentina back but ran out of steam after a few minutes and the Viola regained equilibrium, keeping the ball and probing for chances without actually creating all that much despite some neat passing plays. The real interest was Italiano switching to a back 3 at the hour mark, but it felt like neither side had any real ability to score another and the scoreline remained unchanged.

Full time

Goals: Beltrán 7’

Cards: 33’ Marí, Akpa Akpro 72’, D’Ambrosio 88’; 33’ Beltrán, Mina 68’, Kayode 86’, Ranieri 90’+3

Stats

What’s next

The win means that Fiorentina climbs to 4th place pending how Bologna does against Atalanta tomorrow. It does assure that the Viola will be at least 6th at Christmas, which is nice. That’s really it. Hope everyone enjoys a festive Yule.