The Viola made it a perfect start to the new campaign as Gaetano Castrovilli volleyed home Federico Chiesa’s brilliant assist to secure a 1-0 victory over Torino at the Stadio Franchi.

It was no less than the Viola deserved, having seen Salvatore Sirigu pull off a string of superb saves to keep the game scoreless until the 78th minute.

Giuseppe Iachini’s starting line-up was much the same as the side that ended the 2019/20 season little over a month ago, but two of the summer additions were brought in: Cristiano Biraghi, making his return after a year at Inter, and Giacomo Bonaventura, having spent just over week working with his new team-mates.

Meanwhile, with German Pezzella on the bench, Franck Ribery took the captain’s armband.

The Viola made a lively start to proceedings, with Biraghi and Chiesa making hay down the flanks.

The first real chance came in the 10th minute when Bonaventura saw his shot blocked by Nicolas Nkoulou just yards from goal. Seven minutes later Christian Kouame headed just wide at the end of a fine team move.

Shortly afterwards, Bartlomiej Dragowski was then called into action to deny Alejandro Berenguer while down the other end Sirigu pulled out a miraculous stop to thwart another Kouame header.

Fiorentina enjoyed more possession after the break and made the breakthrough midway through the half when Biraghi finished from close range, only for VAR to determine that it was offside.

It was only a matter of time though, and when Chiesa showed Cristian Ansaldi a clean pair of heels and put in an inch-perfect delivery for Castrovilli at the back post with 12 minutes left on the clock, the could only be one outcome.

Patrick Cutrone might have added a second before the final whistle but Sirigu again came to the visitors’ rescue.

Fiorentina thus got their first three points of the new campaign on the board with a delighted Rocco Commisso watching from the stands.

Fiorentina 1-0 Torino (HT 0-0)
Scorer: Castrovilli 78.

Fiorentina: Dragowski; Caceres, Milenkovic, Ceccherini; Chiesa (Lirola 83), Bonaventura (B.Valero 79), Duncan, Castrovilli, Biraghi (Venuti 88); Kouame (Cutrone 88), Ribery (Vlahovic 79).
Subs not used: Terracciano, Brancolini, Illanes, Saponara, Pezzella, Montiel, Igor.
Coach: Iachini.

Torino: Sirigu; Izzo (Vojvoda 88), Nkoulou, Bremer, Ansaldi; Meite (Lukic 68), Rincon, Linetty (Millico 88); Berenguer (Verdi 68); Zaza, Belotti.
Subs not used: Ujkani, Rosati, Segre, Falque, Rauti, Murru, Ferigra, Buongiorno.
Coach: Giampaolo.

Referee: Abisso.
Booked: Ceccherini, Milenkovic, Biraghi, Linetty.

Published: Sat, 19 Sep 2020 20:09:00 +0200

Source: Fiorentina Official website en.violachannel.tv