Fiorentina’s return to European competition started with drama and excitement, but ultimately ended in disappointment as they drew 3-3 with Puskás Akadémia. The match had a shocking start for the Viola, who found themselves trailing 2-0 early on, but a spirited second-half effort nearly secured a comeback.
The first half was chaotic for Fiorentina, who struggled to find their rhythm. Their defense faltered dramatically, leading to goals from Puskás players Nagy and Soisalo. An early penalty, awarded after Kayode fouled Nagy, set the tone, with Nagy converting it to give the visitors a shock lead. Fiorentina’s only consolation before halftime came when Sottil scored just before the whistle, making the score 2-1.
Manager Palladino made key changes during the break, bringing on Dodo for the ineffective Kayode and introducing Kean to bolster the attack. Fiorentina started the second half more positively, and those changes paid off. The Viola equalized after a corner, with Quarta scoring a header to make it 2-2.
The momentum shifted further in Fiorentina’s favor when Kean fired home a powerful finish, seemingly sealing the deal for a thrilling comeback. However, the drama wasn’t over. In the dying moments of the match, a corner kick allowed Golla to sneak past Kouamé and equalize for Puskás, making it 3-3.
Now, all eyes will be on the return leg on August 29, where Fiorentina has the chance to secure their spot in the next round of the Conference League, as they travel to Hungary. It’s a situation where the Viola will need to learn from their mistakes if they want to advance.