Fiorentina secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Lazio at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, thanks to a decisive strike from Robin Gosens and a masterclass in goalkeeping from David De Gea.
Heading into this contest, Fiorentina occupied 16th place in the Serie A table. They needed a positive result to distance themselves from the lower ranks, while Lazio arrived sitting in 9th position, looking to climb higher with a win.
The match began with Lazio controlling the tempo and pushing forward early. The visitors commanded the majority of the ball but struggled to break down a resolute home defense.
Fiorentina absorbed the pressure and looked for opportunities on the counter-attack. Their patience paid off in the 28th minute when Robin Gosens found the back of the net.
The goal energized the home crowd and shifted the momentum slightly. Gosens remained a threat throughout the first half, causing problems for the Lazio backline whenever he pushed forward.
Daniele Rugani picked up a yellow card in the 31st minute for a tactical foul. This caution forced the defender to play with discipline for the remainder of the half.
At the break, Lazio manager likely demanded more urgency from his attackers. Despite having 65 percent possession, the away side failed to capitalize on their limited clear chances.
The second half saw Lazio increase their intensity as they chased an equalizer. They forced David De Gea into several crucial saves to protect the slim lead.
De Gea proved unbeatable, recording five saves throughout the 96 minutes. His commanding presence in the box frustrated the Lazio forwards repeatedly.
Tijjani Noslin received a booking in the 63rd minute as tempers flared. Both teams struggled to maintain composure as the game reached its final stages.
Late challenges from Dodo and Roberto Piccoli added to the card count in the closing minutes. Pedro also entered the referee's book in stoppage time.
The statistics highlighted the contrasting styles of the match. Lazio dominated with 661 passes and an expected goals (xG) of 1.38, compared to Fiorentina's 0.41 xG.
Despite the statistical dominance from the visitors, Fiorentina's efficiency proved the difference. This result moves Fiorentina to 32 points, providing a vital boost to their survival hopes this season.
