Serie A | Fiorentina 2-2 Napoli: World class Kvaratskhelia

Jens Cajuste shinned a promising half-volley from 12 yards and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia did the same after a give-and-go with Matias Olivera, then the Georgian curled just over.

Fiorentina responded with a Lucas Beltran effort straight at Alex Meret and Stanislav Lobotka charging down the Nico Gonzalez strike.

The hosts equalised with a divine free kick from specialist Cristiano Biraghi, as it bounced in off the underside of the crossbar, giving Meret no chance.

Incredibly, the game was turned on its head within 90 seconds, as Politano got into a tangle playing out from the back, Nzola intercepted and placed a low right-foot finish into the far bottom corner, putting Fiorentina in front.

After the restart, Meret needed a tough save to palm a Nico Gonzalez curler out of the top corner from the edge of the area, while Jens Cajuste turned over after a Pietro Terracciano one-handed save on Giovanni Simeone.

If the Biraghi free kick was good, then the Kvaratskhelia effort was simply astounding. It was a good 25 metres out and bent with precision and power into the near top corner, again giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Napoli almost turned the game around completely moments later, Politano drilling low to bounce off the base of the upright.

Meret fingertipped a Nico Gonzalez free kick over the bar and Terracciano parried a Politano counter-attack at the near post.

Fiorentina were awarded a penalty at the 80^th minute, but it was revoked following a VAR On-Field Review, as Lobotka got the ball first and made absolutely minimal contact with Andrea Belotti, who was already going down.

Napoli pushed for the winner in stoppages, Giacomo Raspadori’s angled drive going through Nikola Milenkovic’s legs and just wide.

Fiorentina 2-2 Napoli

Rrahmani 8 (N), Biraghi 40 (F), Nzola 42 (F), Kvaratskhelia 57 (N)

17-05-2024 19:45 MatchDay 37 Artemio Franchi Stadium

Fiorentina

Napoli 2 - 2

Player statistic

1st half

		8'		Amir Rrahmani (Assist: Matteo Politano)
Cristiano Biraghi		40'
		41'		Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
M’Bala Nzola		42'

2nd half

57'

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia     70' Jens Cajuste Rolando Mandragora

84'     Fiorentina Napoli

Starting lineups

1

Pietro Terracciano Goalkeeper 3

Cristiano Biraghi Defender 78' 2

Dodô Defender 28

Lucas Martínez Quarta Defender 4

Nikola Milenkovic Defender 6

Arthur Melo Midfielder 87' 5

Giacomo Bonaventura Midfielder 99

Christian Kouamé Attacker 67' 9

Lucas Beltrán Attacker 78' 18 M’Bala Nzola Attacker 67' 10

Nicólas González Attacker 1

Alex Meret Goalkeeper 13

Amir Rrahmani Defender 55

Leo Östigard Defender 17

Mathías Olivera Defender 30 Pasquale Mazzocchi Defender 99

Frank Anguissa Midfielder 24

Jens Cajuste Midfielder 68

Stanislav Lobotka Midfielder 18

Giovanni Simeone Attacker 76' 77

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Attacker 86' 21

Matteo Politano Attacker

76'

Substitutes

32

Alfred Duncan Midfielder 16

Luca Ranieri Defender 17

Gaetano Castrovilli Midfielder 72

Antonin Barak Midfielder 22

Davide Faraoni Defender 53

Oliver Christensen Goalkeeper 30 Tommaso Martinelli Goalkeeper 33 Michael Kayode Defender 19 Gino Infantino Midfielder 37 Pietro Comuzzo Defender 11

Jonathan Ikoné Attacker 67' 20

Andrea Belotti Attacker 67' 65 Fabiano Parisi Defender 78' 38

Rolando Mandragora Midfielder 78' 8

Maxime Lopez Midfielder 87' 5

Juan Jesus Defender 16 Hubert Idasiak Goalkeeper 14 Nikita Contini Goalkeeper

Hamed Junior Traorè Midfielder 32

Leander Dendoncker Defender 3

Natan Defender 81

Giacomo Raspadori Attacker 76' 26

Cyril Ngonge Attacker 76' 29

Jesper Lindström Midfielder

86'