Basel-Fiorentina 1-3: brace from Nico Gonzalez and goal from Amdouni, final goal from Barak

It’s not a dream. It is the reality of those who know how to cope with difficulties, of those who know no boundaries. Fiorentina proved it, overturning Franchi’s disadvantage, leaving behind the tension that had accompanied the whole week and confirming themselves as an infallible away machine. The Viola are in the Conference League final, becoming the first team to have reached the final in all European competitions. It is also the triumph of our football, which is completed in the most painful way possible: counting Inter and Roma as well, there will thus be three Italian teams competing in the finals of the three European competitions, as has not happened since 1994. The 1-3 draw Fiorentina one step away from a historic success is a deserved result. The heart manages to go beyond the obstacles that Vincenzo Italiano’s team creates on its own, with some oversights that put qualification at risk. Nico Gonzalez wears the clothes of the leader, who unlocks the match and responds to the momentary draw by Amdouni. The bench comes to the coach’s rescue when things don’t go well, extra time is more painful than necessary because Jovic eats up three almost scored goals, in an atmosphere made even heavier by the suspension of the match due to the illness of a fan viola. In the end it is Barak who makes the two thousand supporters who have reached Switzerland explode with joy, and who will be able to return to Florence with a smile this big.

THE MATCH

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The Italian finds Milenkovic, disqualified in the first leg, in central defense and also changes the other central defender compared to the Franchi match, focusing on Igor. The other innovations concern the use of Castrovilli and Brekalo, respectively in place of Ikoné and Mandragora. Vogel responds with Calafiori as owner and a very compact setup, with the team lining up with the 5-3-2 formation in the non-possession phase, leaving very little distance between the departments. The tactic of the Swiss is rather wait-and-see, without however disdaining a certain pressure which puts Igor in difficulty in the initial phase of the match. It is precisely on a recovered ball on the opposing trocar that Basel creates the first danger, with a shot from the edge of Ndoye that ends wide (20′). Fiorentina shakes up, begins to take measures to develop some interesting situations on the wing. In the half hour Biraghi fishes Nico Gonzalez well in the area, but his gap misses the goal by just a little. It’s the Viola’s best moment, who try again with Bonaventura’s shot that Hitz raises for a corner; on the developments of the corner, the captain’s left foot finds the Argentine again, totally free to break away in the heart of the area and even the score with a comfortable header in the 34th minute. Aerial solutions are the most effective, only an excellent reflex from Hitz prevents the Italian formation from overturning the score, on Bonaventura’s deviation.

THE RECOVERY

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The Italian removes a dull Brekalo to insert Ikoné, Fiorentina enter the field with the right attitude, maintaining a good presence in the Basel half. However, the Swiss find the equal at the first thrust: Amdouni receives a deep throw and puts in behind Terracciano after making fun of Igor (54′). At the umpteenth mistake of a complicated evening, Italiano replaces the defender with Ranieri, who gets booked a few minutes after his entry for an out of time tackle on Augustin. Fiorentina does not disunite and gradually increases the push. Bonaventura’s turn is slightly high (63′), while Nico Gonzalez’s is surgical: the defense of the Swiss misreads a loose ball, the Argentine unleashes it into the net in the 72nd minute. Vogel’s team is on the ropes, the Viola are very insidious on set pieces both with the usual Bonaventura and with Milenkovic, but it’s not enough to avoid extra time.

ADDITIONAL

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Jovic takes over Cabral, little involved in the game. The Serbian had a colossal opportunity in the 94th minute, always heading, with Hitz surpassing himself and also decisive a few moments later on Gonzalez’s undersized attempt. Bonaventura also tries again after turning well in the center of the area, the goalkeeper is still reactive (100′). In the second extra time, the match was interrupted for about ten minutes due to a Fiorentina fan who was taken ill in the away sector, who was then taken to the hospital. In added time Jovic has another huge chance, when he kicks from a few meters after Barak’s edge, but sensationally misses the goal. With time practically up, the attacker partially redeems himself for his mistakes: he towers over the umpteenth cross of the match, Pelmard fails to clear the ball which ends up in Barak, who does not forgive and signs the historic success which is worth the Prague final . Jovic could also round off the score were it not that one-on-one with Hitz hits the post. It’s not an evening, not his, but all of Fiorentina.