Fiorentina-Sivasspor 1-0, goal by Barak

From our correspondent Alex Frosio

March 9th
– FLORENCE

The seventh consecutive victory in the Conference and the fourth in a row this season is the guarantee of continuity that Fiorentina was looking for. The success against Sivasspor in the first leg of the round of 16 does not have the dimensions it should have given the volume of play and the number of occasions produced by Viola, and there is still room for improvement on this, but the return to Turkey – complicated due to the conditions environmental – it can’t be too complicated if the opponent has this modest caliber. Barak decides in the scrum halfway through the second half, Igor then saves on the only opportunity granted to Sivasspor: it would have been a joke.

finally castrovilli

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As expected, the Italian bet on Jovic in the center of the attack, with Ikoné and Nico Gonzalez at his sides, the real novelty is in midfield where Castrovilli is in his first starting position this season and is positioned on the centre-left, like Bonaventura on the centre-right, but in a more advanced position, almost like an asymmetric playmaker. And as expected, Sivasspor – with Gradel, their best player, on the bench – delivers the ball to Viola, who should already be 3-0 after just over a quarter of an hour. In the 11th minute Nico Gonzalez receives between the lines, where he often moves to leave the flank to Biraghi and Castrovilli, and slots in for Jovic’s cut: the Serbian, all alone in front of Ali Sasal, with an attempt to scavetto gives the opportunity to embrace the Turkish goalkeeper. On 15′ Nico’s cross from the left and Castrovilli’s back-heel with a scorpion: full crossbar. And in the 16th minute Ikoné first launches Bonaventura in an open field, but the Jovic lesson is not served: another scavetto intercepted by Ali Sasal then Paluli closes on Jovic. It should be 3-0 but it’s 0-0 instead. But there is only Fiorentina. It is played on one half of the pitch. And spaces get clogged. In the 25th minute Bonaventura recovers and a low cross crosses the whole small area. In the 29th minute Nico Gonzalez pounced on a second ball after an aerial duel between Ciftci and Ikoné, with a diagonal right foot too wide. In the 40th minute another colossal chance triggered by Gonzalez: Ali Sasal comes out on a long ball from Martinez Quarta from the defence, Nico anticipates it and on the rebound Jovic finds the goal wide open on the edge of the area but throws the ball at Goutas’ figure. In the 45th minute, incredibly the result still hasn’t bolted.

Risks

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After tea, Fiorentina seems almost discouraged by finding themselves still at 0-0 and the start of the second half isn’t aggressive. On the contrary, there is also a risk on a touch by Appindagoye in front of Terracciano, with Jovic who drives away, in the 20th minute Goutas heads the crossbar. Italian puts his hand to training early. Three substitutions in the 13th minute: Sottil for Ikone, Barak for Castrovilli and Mandragora for Amrabat, while Calimbay plays for Gradel, his best player. But he still doesn’t need it and in the 23′ there is also Cabral for Bonaventura and 4-2-4: against this perched Sivasspor we need the greatest percussive force possible. And here is the goal immediately: corner from Nico, outburst from Ali Sasal, Jovic turns and Barak shoots his left foot into the net in the scrum. After the advantage Viola breathes, tries a couple of times from distance – Nico and Mandragora high – and risks in the 40th minute: an airlift from Gradel opens the door wide open for Charisis, Igor’s big body is on the trajectory without fail. Narrow escape and Viola chasing a double. Between the 40th and 44th minutes he could score three more goals: Kouame in the center for Cabral who widens his left foot all alone, Sottil for Mandragora who shoots into the outside net, Cabral launches Sottil who tries the wide diagonal. Always 1-0, too little. And with Biraghi being incredibly booked because he “wastes time” in taking a corner kick. He was warned. Will skip the return. But Gradel won’t be there either, who at the last minute hits Martinez Quarta with a far ball and is sent off.