Final result: Fiorentina – New Saints 2-0
FLORENTINA (by Dimitri Conti)
Terracciano 6 – Until the 75th minute he doesn’t even have to get his gloves dirty, so he is called upon to do so just to intercept a cross shot. Absolute rest.
Kayode 6 – He had been missing from the purple-tinted radar for a while, and here he is again as a back four for the first time this season. An hour on the pitch without infamy and without praise.
From 58′ Dodo 6.5 – Among the best at the start of the Viola season, he also entered well with the New Saints. He would have released Kean for the easiest of goals.
Moreno 6 – The total defensive emergency led Palladino to make his debut. A few small scattered hesitations, but overall it doesn’t disappoint and gets the six.
Biraghi 6.5 – Another experiment, this time he has to adapt to the center of a four-man defence. Good security, is also an integral part of attacks.
Parisi 6 – After so much benching, he can try to make his mark. Lots of movement on the left wing, but he doesn’t always get the plays he would like.
Adli 7 – In the moments as a substitute he had made good impressions so far, here was the chance from the 1st minute. He makes the most of it, scoring the 1-0 with a nice left foot.
From 82′ Cataldi sv.
Mandragora 6 – Upon returning from the first, he almost missed the challenge at the end of the first half. And instead he hits the post, in the same action he gets hurt and has to go out.
From 45’+ 1′ Richardson 6 – Thrown in in a hurry, he doesn’t have too much time until half-time to acclimatise. In the end he becomes dangerous.
Ikone 5.5 – He kicks so half-heartedly from two steps at the start of the match that you wonder if what you saw is real. Better in the second half, starts the goal actions.
Beltran 5.5 – In the pre-match Palladino reiterates that his ideal role is the attacking midfielder. Are we really sure? Another denial takes place at Franchi.
From 58′ Kean 6.5 – He closes the score with the doubling goal, he needs a second attempt to do so. Shortly afterwards he misses one on the line which is sensational.
Thin 5 – He had been the object of words of esteem from his coach, he wants to give back to the field but too often remains out of the way. It never manages to turn on.
From 58′ Gudmundsson 6 – He seems to be the man that Fiorentina must cling to to turn the tide. However, a super test will not be needed.
Kouame 6 – In the apathetic first half he was the one who managed to make himself more dangerous more often. Discreet sacrificial work, opens up space for his teammates.
Raffaele Palladino 6 – On his debut in a European group, he had to deal with a defensive emergency but there was turnover on the rest of the pitch too. After an hour of game maneuvered but without bite, he brings in the heavyweights Kean and Gudmundsson and the results finally arrive. The most awaited result, at least, is victory. We still have to wait for progress.
THE NEW SAINTS (by Daniele Najjar)
Roberts 6.5 – Immediately a nice reflection on Kouame after 10 minutes. He is well positioned at the near post on Beltran’s attempt. He can’t do anything about the goals conceded. On Ikoné he does a miracle, he also saves on Kean who shoots at him with an empty net.
Daniels 6 – He gives little to crosses and one-on-ones to Sottil. Good and punctual at chasing, positioning and containing.
Davies 6 – It is above all he who contains Kouame in the first half, as well as Beltran’s attempts to insert. Well done to his teammates in holding on to the fort for as long as he can.
Bodenham 6 – He blocks some attempts by the Viola from outside, he also pays attention to Beltran’s attempts, he dominates all the aerial balls. TNS had to play the game of their lives tonight, they did it.
Redmond 6 – Tough test for the number 10 who plays full back. After the first one-on-ones with Ikone, it was thought that the Welshman would dream of the purple winger at night, but perhaps the opposite will happen given how tignomous and disciplined he was in hindering him. It’s true that the goal comes from another descent by Ikoné himself, but in fact he only allows him to pass it behind, without letting him in.
From 83′ Brobbel sv
Clark 5.5 – In addition to the running and sacrifice that all TNS puts into it, he is the one who puts in a bit of reasoning and quality. His shot after sixty seconds scares the Viola. However, the Viola always have the ball.
From the 67th minute McManus 6 – Since his entry TNS tries something more on the attacking midfield, he at least tries not to throw the ball away. Then he finds the first shot on goal, but Terracciano is attentive.
Smith 5.5 – Infinite running and total field coverage to help the team’s defensive phase. Little, very little quality with the ball at his feet, which he loses very often.
Daniel Williams 5.5 – Super sacrifice and aptitude in closing and doubling every forward of the Viola. He gets himself booked right on one of the diagonals to stop a restart by Richardson. He was there to lose the tackle with Adli, who then broke the deadlock.
Bradley 5.5 – More of an added full-back than an attacking winger, he adapts to a role that is not his for the cause by running up and down. When Dodò enters he shows some suffering and Harrison changes him, exhausted.
From 61′ Marshall 5.5 – He comes in to bring new life to the running on the flanks to counter the fresh Dodò: he does so in alternating phases.
Wilson 5.5 – Ready-go immediately creates panic in the Fiorentina area with a penetration on the left. Then he has a hard time with the few balls that arrive, but he always pounces on them with great heart, but little else.
From 83′ Cieslewicz sv
Holden 5 – Starting every time from 20 meters in your own half of the field is not easy, it never is. Continuous folding done exclusively to buffer.
All. Craig Harrison 5.5 – The plan is clear and it was difficult to expect a different one: close everything, start again if possible, but also not. He came to Florence to aim for a historic 0-0 draw in Italy, a plan that worked until Adli’s goal. Considering the history of the club he coaches, it wasn’t even right to ask him for anything more than that.