Fiorentina and Atalanta concluded the ninth matchday of Serie A with a 2-2 draw at the Franchi. The match, which saw Sarri's team play with one man less due to numerous injuries, was largely decided by the performances of the key players and a decisive action by Zalewski.
At the start, Fiorentina had control of the game, taking advantage of Atalanta's difficulty in maneuvering with one player less. Despite some attempts from Pellegrino, Jiménez and Mastantuono, Vanoli's defense, led by Carnesecchi, remained solid. However, Atalanta had their first concrete opportunity in the 19th minute, when Elmas received a pass from De Ketelaere and attempted a penalty on the move. The defeat was rejected by Viery, but Atalanta returned to the field with more determination, thanks above all to the actions of De Ketelaere, who continued to create dangers for Fiorentina's defense.
De Ketelaere's goal in the 40th minute opened the doors for Atalanta, bringing the team to 1‑0. The young striker then had another attempt to double the lead in the 43rd minute, but it was blocked by De Gea. Fiorentina tried to respond, but Sarri's defense maintained its solidity. Meanwhile, Sarri's team suffered an injury to Kristensen, who had to be replaced, and Scalvini was brought on after less than two minutes.
In the second half Fiorentina changed their approach, aiming for a direct free kick. The 53rd minute saw Njie score the team's first goal, with a perfect cross from Jiménez that found the Swedish winger. The goal was confirmed by the penalty, which brought Fiorentina to 1‑1. In the 60th minute, Joao Mario received the ball on the left, accelerated and created an action that ended with a header from Obric, but Carnesecchi's goal blocked the goal. In the 74th minute, Atalanta equalized again, with a deep throw to De Ketelaere who fed Zalewski into the center. The Pole finished with a left-footed shot that ended up in the corner.
The match ended in a 2‑2 draw, with Fiorentina getting their first win at the Franchi thanks to Zalewski. Atalanta, on the other hand, had to settle for a draw, but demonstrated that they were still capable of creating dangerous opportunities. The match left both teams with an important lesson: Fiorentina demonstrated that they can play with a more aggressive strategy, while Atalanta demonstrated that they can recover quickly from an injury. The next match for both teams will be crucial to understand how they will position themselves in the table.