Serie A: Fiorentina Outlasts Cagliari

Fiorentina's eighth consecutive win sets them up for a strong season, with Cataldi's goal the difference against Cagliari.

Danilo Cataldi's winning goal for Fiorentina was a poignant moment, as he dedicated the strike to teammate Edoardo Bove, who is currently hospitalized. The goal proved decisive, as Fiorentina edged past Cagliari to secure their eighth consecutive Serie A victory, a streak that dates back to 1960.

Fiorentina's impressive run had been temporarily halted due to the abandonment of their match against Inter last week, following Edoardo Bove's medical emergency. The team had returned to action on Wednesday, albeit in a disappointing Coppa Italia exit to Empoli on penalties. With Moise Kean rested and Albert Gudmundsson not yet fully fit, Fiorentina's squad depth was tested against Cagliari.

Cagliari, meanwhile, had been enjoying a resurgence, with three unbeaten matches preceding their encounter with Fiorentina. Their previous outing had yielded a 1-0 victory over Verona, and they were looking to build on that momentum. However, Fiorentina's superior form ultimately told, as they ground out a hard-fought win to maintain their impressive streak.

The match sparked to life in the early stages, with Riccardo Sottil unleashing a powerful shot from distance that tested the goalkeeper. However, it was Cagliari who created the more clear-cut opportunities, with Roberto Piccoli forcing a point-blank save from David De Gea. The rebound fell to Antoine Makoumbou, whose follow-up effort was deflected wide by Luca Ranieri, ensuring the score remained level.

Fiorentina's persistence eventually paid off, as they broke the deadlock after a prolonged period of possession. The goal was crafted by Lucas Beltran, who cleverly laid the ball off to Danilo Cataldi with his back to goal. Cataldi seized the opportunity, sweeping the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area with the inside of his right boot. The goal sparked jubilation among the Fiorentina players, and Cataldi rushed to the nearby television camera to send a heartfelt message to his hospitalized teammate, Edoardo Bove: “I told you!”

Jonathan Ikone proved to be a persistent threat for Fiorentina, twice testing Cagliari goalkeeper Alen Sherri at the near post with his efforts. Meanwhile, Yerry Mina and Adam Obert both came close to connecting with a Razvan Marin free kick at the back post, but ultimately failed to make contact.

Cagliari, however, refused to give up, and they pushed hard for an equalizer. Gianluca Gaetano had a gilt-edged opportunity to level the scores, but he nodded Tommaso Augello's cross over the bar, squandering a chance to bring his team back into the game.

As the match drew to a close, Fiorentina had a chance to put the result beyond doubt. Robin Gosens found himself unmarked at the back post, but he failed to capitalize on the opportunity, getting his header all wrong and allowing Cagliari to cling to hope until the final whistle.