The Fiorentina’s last summer friendly ended in a 2-2 draw after 138 minutes of play, but the main takeaways come from the first half, which showed positive signs. Andrea Colpani initiated a play that led to Moise Kean scoring in just the 10th minute. Head coach Raffaele Palladino was pleased to see what he hopes will translate to their season opener against Parma in exactly one week.
In the first 45 minutes, Fiorentina looked strong, with Kean and Colpani effectively working together. The second half saw Dodo win a penalty after being fouled by Gunter, which Mandragora converted in the 71st minute to extend Fiorentina’s lead to 2-0. However, Freiburg clawed back with a penalty of their own in the 121st minute, scored by Gregoritsch, after Luca Ranieri’s foul in the box. Philipp then equalized for the Germans, making it 2-2 after 130 minutes.
This unique three-period match (each lasting 45 minutes) not only entertained but also provided crucial insights. The lineup seems to suggest that the initial eleven selected by Palladino are likely to start in Serie A on Saturday, with the possible exception of Amrabat, who is on the transfer market but continues to be used by Fiorentina’s coach as long as he is available.
Palladino’s starting formation had the feel of a final rehearsal, featuring a 3-4-2-1 system with Kean as the striker, supported by Colpani and Sottil in the attacking midfield. Defensively, the trio of Quarta, Pongracic, and Biraghi started, with Biraghi filling in after Ranieri’s suspension in the upcoming match. Mandragora and Amrabat made up the midfield, with Amrabat seemingly receiving a vote of confidence from Palladino despite his impending exit.
Throughout the match, numerous substitutions allowed all players to gain minutes, with Beltran getting a chance to play as a central striker, reminiscent of his role under former coach Vincenzo Italiano last season. Beltran created two significant scoring opportunities, positioning himself as a potential backup for Kean.
In addition to Kean’s impressive goal, which included a nutmeg on the goalkeeper, and Mandragora’s penalty strike, Fiorentina had several other promising chances through Dodo, Sottil, and Parisi. However, defensive frailties were apparent, with lapses in construction play leading to unnecessary risks. For Freiburg, Adamu was their most dangerous player in the first half, creating multiple scoring opportunities alongside Holer.
Overall, while Fiorentina demonstrated flashes of brilliance with their attacking play, the double advantage they had was not enough to secure a win. By the time the two goals from Freiburg came through, Palladino’s ideal team had already been disrupted, and their focus seemed to dwindle, leading to five yellow cards for Fiorentina players, four of which were issued in the opening 39 minutes to Amrabat, Dodo, Mandragora, and Quarta, with Bianco receiving one in the latter stages.