Bruges were close, very close, to resisting one of those games that get complicated from the beginning. Due to a goal conceded in the first minutes, due to a rain that made each control more difficult and an expulsion of Onyedika that they did not understand due to the irresponsibility of his teammate. But they were left wanting in injury time.
Under a very intense rain that made it difficult for the locals to dominate more than they did, Sottil put the game ahead in the 5th minute. The Italian picked up a change of play from Nico González, made space to shoot and put it in the furthest square. A great goal. Nico González himself tried to score his own shortly after. But the one who achieved it was Vanaken from the penalty spot. A chance created by Igor Thiago, tireless throughout the match, provoking Biraghi’s handball.
It was a mirage, an isolated play. Fiorentina carried the weight of the game and reached the area more, although without many chances. Of course, most of them featured Nico González. A bad shot of his volley fell to Belotti, who with a pure 9 movement, shot with his left foot at goal. Second time that the locals took the lead, and second time that they would tie. After an expulsion that Onyedika saw in four minutes, the first for an elbow on Belotti and then for a very harsh challenge on Beltrán, in the 61st minute, Igor Thiago equalized again for his team. The Brazilian ran a long ball, controlled his header, and shot cross. Ranieri could not maintain his career.
Fiorentina continued to press. Vincenzo Italiano did not know what else to do and took out Nzola, a player who was recovering from injury after five games out. And the forward was the hero of the match. After resisting for more than half an hour, Bruges were unable to clear a shot from the Angolan’s post that he himself picked up to cross a hyper-populated area. The Italians will travel to Belgium with an advantage, but without getting too confident.
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Changes
Christian Kouamé (51′, Riccardo Sottil), Casper Nielsen (65′, Michal Skóras), Maxim Lopez (69′, Arthur), Jonathan Icon (69′, Lucas Beltrán), Hugo Vetlesen (78′, Ferran Jutglà), Antonin Barak (87′, Giacomo Bonaventura), M’Bala I’m Going (87′, Andrea Belotti), Joel Ordonez (92′, Jorne Spieleers), Eder Balanta (92′, Denis Odoi)
Goals
1-0, 4′: Riccardo Sottil1-1, 16′: Vanaken2-1, 36′: Belotti2-2, 62′: Thiago3-2, 90′: M’Bala I’m Going
Cards
Referee: Michael Oliver
Arbitro VAR: Chris Kavanagh, Jarred Gillett
Nicolas Gonzalez (35′, Yellow), Raphael Onyedika Nwadike (57′, Yellow), Raphael Onyedika Nwadike (60′,Roja), Lucas Martínez Quarta (69′, Yellow), Nordin Jackers (83′, Yellow)
