Spectacular draw between Viola and Napoli, Juve at +3
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Fiorentina-Napoli 1-1. Spectacular draw at the Franchi between the Viola and the Azzurri, initial Alonso-Higuain back-and-forth then two crossbars by the hosts and at least three decisive saves by Tatarusanu. Juve stretches to +3, gigliati joined by Roma in third place.
Match full of chances and played at a very high pace. The start is of rare intensity with the initial back-and-forth in a matter of seconds: at 6′, Alonso takes off undisturbed on Borja Valero’s corner, finding the lead for the Viola. Not even a lap of the clock later, the same Spanish defender totally misjudges the disengagement on a throw from the Azzurri’s backline and unintentionally serves Higuain, who beats Tatarusanu out of position.
Fiorentina despite the guests’ flash equalizer takes over the reins of the game and crushes Napoli in its own three-quarter. Sarri’s team fails to filter in the midfield and suffers the pace of the Gigliati, who came very close to scoring with Kalinic and Tello, who hit two glaring crosses.
Resume, high pace but more balanced game. In 58′ Tatarusanu performs a double feat, first on Callejon, then on Higuain, keeping it 1-1. Sarri inserts David Lopez and Mertens, Sousa plays the Bernadeschi card, and the two teams continue to face each other, with continuous reversals of the front. In the 85th minute Higuain, caught by Insigne, scores but is offside.
In the final Sarri surprisingly removes Pipita (visibly disgruntled) for Gabbiadini, while Sousa inserts Ilicic. It is precisely the former Samp serves Insigne the 2-1 ball, but again Tatarusanu in a dive denies Napoli the goal. 1-1, at the triple whistle.
