Fiorentina ended their slump with a huge win over Lazio, as Yacine Adli and Lucas Beltran struck early, but Lazio almost equalized on the last kick of a fiery match.
It was a face-off for European places, but between teams with very different current forms. The Aquile were fresh from a 3-1 Europa League win over Real Sociedad on Thursday to secure access to the last 16, but lost Nuno Tavares to injury, joining Matias Vecino, Manuel Lazzari and Patric on the table treatment. La Viola have recorded just two draws in their last six Serie A matches, while transfer-listed Danilo Cataldi, Andrea Colpani, Cristiano Biraghi and Jonathan Ikone did not make the trip.
Find out how it all went down on the Liveblog.
It was Fiorentina in their red away kit who took the lead, as Adam Marusic was caught napping by Rolando Mandragora playing from the back, allowing Robin Gosens to cross from the left for Yacine Adli’s volley which twisted over Ivan Provedel’s glove.
La Viola doubled their advantage soon after, as Michael Folorunsho sent Dodo down the right, riding a sliding tackle from Luca Pellegrini to pick up the cross from a free header from Lucas Beltran at the far post.
Matteo Guendouzi saw his strike charged by Rolando Mandragora when Gustav Isaksen pulled back, but Albert Gudmundsson almost scored with an acrobatic volley from Moise Kean’s knockdown which flew past Provedel to hit the upright.
Lazio had to make changes, introducing Pedro and Nicolò Rovella for the restart, pushing their opponents back with Pedro’s shot deflecting wide.
There was a bizarre incident when Adli was booked for wasting time as he slowly left the pitch, angrily kicked the ball into the stands and received his second yellow card. He had already been replaced, so Fiorentina still had 11 men, but Adli will be suspended against Genoa.
-Lazio threatened moments later when De Gea missed a Boulaye Dia header and it bounced off the upright, although he maintained Castellanos committed it.
Luca Ranieri threw himself into the path of a Dia strike, but although the hosts dominated possession, they hardly ever tested De Gea. There was also chaos in stoppage time when the referee blew his whistle during a quick Lazio corner, ruling that the ball was not out of play when it clearly was.
Lazio finally got a goal back in injury time, as Castellanos’ cross was tipped over by Elseid Hysaj for Adam Marusic’s header from close range, tucking away De Gea’s glove.
The tension was sky high and Marco Baroni was sent off for dissent after sarcastically applauding Fiorentina’s time wasting, then De Gea flew in for a desperate one-handed save as Marusic’s screamer headed into the top corner the furthest.
Castellanos appealed penalties for a push and Palladino was also sent off the sidelines in a chaotic finale.
On the final kick of the match, Pedro’s shot from the edge of the box bounced off the inside of the upright, rolled all the way across the goal line and came out as De Gea could only stand and watch.
Lazio 1-2 Fiorentina
Adli 11 (F), Beltran 17 (F), Marusic 92 (G)
