Serie A: Fiorentina Stay in Sixth Place Hunt with Hard-Fought Win

Fiorentina came from behind to beat Cagliari 2-1, keeping their European hopes alive in the Serie A.

Fiorentina kept their European hopes alive with a hard-fought 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Cagliari at the Unipol Domus. The match was rescheduled due to the passing of Pope Francis, but Cagliari didn't let the circumstances affect their performance, scoring within seven minutes.

Roberto Piccoli capitalized on David de Gea's mistake, firing the ball through the goalkeeper's legs to give Cagliari a valuable lead. The Rossoblu had momentum on their side, with Nadir Zortea's shot hitting the post just before the 20-minute mark. Fiorentina nearly equalized when Rolando Mandragora's free-kick hit the woodwork.

Fiorentina come from behind to take all three points! 🔀#CagliariFiorentina pic.twitter.com/TeKUd4YrNe

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) April 23, 2025

Despite missing striker Moise Kean, Fiorentina persisted and finally got their first shot on target through Albert Gudmundsson's solo effort, which was brilliantly saved by Elia Caprile. The stage was set for a thrilling second half as Fiorentina looked to turn the tide and keep their European hopes alive.

Fiorentina leveled the score in the 36th minute with a beautifully crafted goal. Rolando Mandragora's pass found Robin Gosens, who slotted the ball into the far corner with the outside of his boot. However, Cagliari thought they had earned a penalty in first-half stoppage time, but VAR overturned the decision, sparking gasps of disbelief from the crowd.

Fiorentina carried their momentum into the second half and took the lead just three minutes after the restart. Lucas Beltran headed home Dodo's cross, giving Fiorentina a 2-1 lead. The hosts pushed for an equalizer, but Fiorentina's defense held firm, with David de Gea making a crucial save from Razvan Marin's long-range shot.

The win keeps Fiorentina three points behind sixth-placed Lazio with five matches left. Meanwhile, Cagliari's relegation worries persist, and they face a tough final-day fixture against Napoli, who are still in the title hunt. Despite their best efforts, Cagliari couldn't earn a late equalizer, and Fiorentina celebrated a hard-fought win.