Serie A: Fiorentina Miss Chance to Seal Safety in Lecce Draw

Lecce cling to survival hopes with draw against Fiorentina

David de Gea tipped Banda’s shot wide but Lecce scored from the corner as Gabriel headed past the keeper for 1-1 vs Fiorentina.

Fiorentina’s six-game unbeaten run continues but they missed a chance to all but secure safety in a 1-1 draw at Lecce...

Lecce missed an opportunity to climb out of the Serie A drop zone after a 1-1 home draw with Fiorentina. The result leaves the Giallorossi with just one win in their last eight.

  

The first 20 minutes were low on action. The only real chance saw Walid Cheddira’s header from a corner cleared off the line by Nicolo Fagioli.

Clear chances were rare, but the Salentini showed more urgency in the final third. With every point critical for the hosts at this stage, their intent was obvious.

  

Fiorentina grew into the half, and La Viola struck first on 30 minutes. Jack Harrison took a clever pass from Rolando Mandragora and curled a 12-yard finish past Wladimiro Falcone.

  

Fiorentina nearly doubled the lead soon after. Roberto Piccoli got a slight touch to Dodo’s excellent ball into the box but steered it just wide from close range.

  

At the break, Lecce were left with the same issue that has plagued their season: no cutting edge up front. Oumar Ngom’s tame effort from a good position on the stroke of half-time summed it up.

Lecce’s frustration carried into the second half. The Salentini regularly worked into good areas, but the final ball consistently let them down.

  

David de Gea was finally called into action with 20 minutes to go, tipping Lameck Banda’s strike around the post to preserve the lead.

But the resulting corner brought Lecce’s breakthrough. Antonino Gallo’s delivery from the right found an unmarked Tiago Gabriel, who headed home to send the stadium wild.

Lecce threw everything forward for a late winner but ran out of time. Substitute Nikola Stulic wasted a golden chance, letting Paolo Vanoli’s side hang on for a point away from home.

 

With five games left, 18th-placed Lecce badly need a win. They’ll try to get it Saturday away at Hellas Verona.

La Viola stay 15th, but a six-game unbeaten run has them on the verge of securing Serie A safety for next season.