Serie A: Fiorentina Edge Lecce 1-0 as Robin Gosens Scores Winner

Fiorentina secured a narrow 1-0 win over Lecce in Serie A, thanks to Robin Gosens' early goal, to move up to sixth in the table.

Fiorentina secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lecce in Serie A on Friday evening, thanks to Robin Gosens's early strike. However, the Viola missed a golden opportunity to seal the win when Lucas Beltran failed to convert a penalty midway through the second half.

Fiorentina was without the services of Moise Kean, who is still recovering from a severe head injury sustained during the team's 1-0 loss to Hellas Verona on Sunday. In response, coach Raffaele Palladino opted for a 3-5-2 formation, pairing Lucas Beltran and Nicolo Zaniolo up front. The match also marked the Serie A debut of Italy U21 midfielder Cher Ndour and the full Viola debut of center-back Pablo Mari.

Fiorentina dominated the early stages of the match, with Gosens making an immediate impact. Within the first minute, he burst forward and attempted a low cross from the left. Two minutes later, Zaniolo also tried his luck from an early attack, setting the tone for a strong start by the Viola.

The decisive moment arrived just shy of the 10-minute mark, as Fiorentina took the lead through Robin Gosens. The German wing-back benefited from Dodo's blistering pace on the right flank, which allowed him to reach the byline and deliver a precise cross. Gosens met the ball at the back post, nodding it in to give Fiorentina a 1-0 advantage.

A contentious moment arose when Lucas Beltran committed a foul on Balthazar Pierret, prompting suggestions that he should have received a second yellow card. However, the referee opted not to issue a red card, and play continued without interruption. Notably, the VAR system is not authorized to intervene in cases involving yellow card offenses, allowing Beltran to escape further punishment.

Fiorentina emerged from the halftime break with renewed vigor, seeking to replicate their strong start to the first half. Dodo initiated the attack, delivering a cross from the left flank that found Beltran in the center of the area. However, the Argentine's header sailed narrowly over the bar, missing the opportunity to double Fiorentina's lead. La Viola would eventually receive another chance to seal the win, courtesy of a penalty kick awarded after a clever combination between Gosens and Nicolo Fagioli.

A clever combination between Nicolo Fagioli and Robin Gosens led to a corner kick, which Fagioli delivered into the box. Gosens expertly flicked the ball on, but it struck the raised arm of Balthazar Pierret, prompting the referee to award a penalty. Lucas Beltran stepped up to take the spot-kick, sending Falcone the wrong way, but his effort hit the right post and rebounded out of the area.

Gosens' header early on secures the three points for the Viola! 👊 #FiorentinaLecce pic.twitter.com/iO1Jhu9pL5

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 28, 2025

In the final minutes of regular time, Fiorentina was awarded a free-kick near the byline. The set piece was taken short, and Beltran unleashed a powerful shot that struck the crossbar. Lecce quickly countered, with substitute Danilo Veiga finding himself one-on-one with David De Gea. However, Veiga's effort from 10 yards out sailed wide of the post, squandering a prime opportunity for the visitors.

The outcome of tonight's match propels Fiorentina to sixth place in the Serie A standings. However, their position is tentative, as Bologna's results later this weekend could potentially see them overtake La Viola.