Sassuolo-Fiorentina 1-3: the Viola end the season well, now the Conference League final

REGGIO EMILIA — The Florentine closes the championship by winning with Sassuolomomentarily detaching Torino in eighth place, rising to 56 points and thus being able to think about the Conference League Finalscheduled for next Wednesday in Prague against West Hamwith more serenity. He had to win the team of Vincenzo Italian and so it was, with the network of Cabral (number 17 in the season) which unlocks the race. Then the Brazilian hits his arm in the second half and Berardifrom the diskette, displaces Cerofolini. But he takes the chair Saponara which in the final he first realizes with a shot around which is a rare beauty, then serves a golden ball to Gonzalez who, in front of goal, beats with his head Russian and close the accounts. Sassuolo play under rhythm but Fiorentina were good at keeping the right balance with a calculated and strategic rotation. At the end of the match expelled Tressoldi for double yellow and Rogerio for a few words too many towards the race director. Now the Viola will have to wait for the result of the match between Turin and Inter on Saturday afternoon, to find out if they can toast to eighth place while waiting to understand how UEFA will express itself towards Juventus, with the possibility that the bianconeri will be out for a year from European competitions.

First half with little emotion

Sassuolo to close with a smile in front of their fans, Fiorentina to try to conquer eighth place in the standings (waiting for Turin to play against Inter on Saturday). Dionisi and Italiano face each other with different thoughts in mind: the Neroverdi coach is in the last act of the season, the Viola one is aiming for the Conference League final scheduled for Wednesday 7 June in Prague against West Ham. For Fiorentina a reasoned rotation, with some starting elements: Dodò, Amrabat, Ikoné. And also Cabral, who in the 10th minute gave Russo the creeps by hitting the post to the left of the goalkeeper after a cross from Duncan. A few minutes later the Brazilian striker tries again: this time from distance, with a powerful and low shot that commits Russo for a corner. Sassuolo’s response is entrusted above all to the most talented player, Berardi: a treacherous cross from the right but then little else. The rhythms are very slow, Fiorentina keep the ball rolling and don’t want to risk anything. The first half ends with a face-off between Ranieri and Berardi and the two yellows foisted on the Viola defender and Sassuolo’s offensive winger.

Saponara show and Fiorentina wins

The second half opens with a flash from the player who stood out the most in the first half, Arthur Cabral. In the 47th minute Fiorentina gave the lead, with Terzic’s cross from the left on which goalkeeper Russo made a half-duck by deflecting the ball at the feet of the Brazilian attacker who scored in front of goal and climbed to 17 goals in the season between the league and cups . The two technicians change some players but the theme does not change: Fiorentina plays, Sassuolo keeps the pace low. The reaction of the neroverdi was entrusted to the usual Berardi who, in the 66th minute, challenged Cerofolini in a clearance on his post. Then the episode of the penalty, with the touch of the hand by Cabral. Marchetti is recalled by the Var, assigns the penalty and Berardi, cold, displaces Cerofolini and scores his thirteenth goal of the season. But it is a pearl from Saponara, about ten from the end, that directs the challenge in favor of the Viola. Round shot and defeated Russo. Then it was again Saponara, with a cross from the left, who found Gonzalez at the far post for the goal that closed the accounts. It’s 1-3 and Fiorentina can celebrate the end of the championship with a victory that projects them to 56 points in eighth place waiting for Turin.

The scoreboard of Sassuolo-Fiorentina

Sassuolo (4-3-3): Russian 5; Toljan 5.5, Ruan 5, Ferrari 6 (1st Romagna 5.5), Rogerio 5; Harroui 6, Lopez 6 (13′ st Bajrami 5.5), Henrique 6; Berardi 6.5 (39′ st Muldur sv), Pinamonti 5.5 (29′ st Marchizza 5), ​​Ceide 5.5 (13′ st Defrel 5). All. Dionisi 5.5.

Fiorentina (4-2-3-1): Cerofoli 6; Dodò 6 (27′ st Venuti 6), Fourth 6, Ranieri 6.5, Terzic 6; Amrabat 6 (37′ st Bianco 6), Duncan 6 (12′ st Bonaventure 6); Ikonè 5.5 (27′ st Saponara 7.5), Castrovilli 5.5, Kouamé 6 (12′ st Gonzalez 7); Cabral 6.5. All. Italian 7.

Referee: Marchetti 6.5.

Scorers: 2′ st Cabral, 26′ st Berardi (pen), 34′ st Saponara, 38′ st Gonzalez.

Note: Tressoldi and Rogerio expelled. Terzic, Ranieri, Berardi, Kouamé, Ruan, Cabral and Marchizza booked.