Nico Gonzalez and a rare Arthur Melo solo effort allowed Fiorentina to overturn the early Milan Djuric header and beat Monza 2-1, staying in the European chase.
Fresh from qualifying for the Conference League Final against Olympiacos, the Viola missed Andrea Belotti, Jonathan Ikone and Riccardo Sottil, while Monza were without a victory in six and unable to count on Patrick Ciurria.
See how the game unfolded on the Liveblog.
The visitors took a surprise early lead when Dany Mota Carvalho was allowed to stand up a cross from the right and Milan Djuric got in front of Lucas Martinez-Quarta for the trademark header.
Fiorentina tried to respond immediately, Armando Izzo with a decisive tackle on Antonin Barak in the penalty area, while M’Bala Nzola had a heavy first touch when springing the offside trap on the Nico Gonzalez pass.
The hosts did equalise when Barak’s cross from the right went over Nzola and found Nico Gonzalez’s cushioned header at the back post.
Pietro Terracciano rushed off his line to deny Alessio Zerbin, then Nico Gonzalez sprinted from his own half to sting Michele Di Gregorio’s gloves at the near stick.
Fabiano Parisi went on a mazy run into the box and went down under a challenge, but the referee was well-positioned and gave a yellow card for simulation.
Fiorentina should’ve gone into the break 2-1 up, but Martinez-Quarta nodded a Barak cross over the bar from a couple of yards.
Rolando Mandragora called a big save out of Di Gregorio after his stunning first touch to control the Parisi ball over the top and hit it on the half-volley.
Mandragora came sliding in to meet the Barak knockdown just a moment too late to beat Di Gregorio, but the Fiorentina pressure finally paid off when Arthur Melo turned Warren Bondo in midfield and ran forward to drill a powerful yet precise right-foot finish into the far bottom corner from outside the D.
What a solo effort that is from Arthur Melo 🤯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/s0x4EucNeM
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 13, 2024
Andrea Colpani threatened to equalise immediately with a stunning solo effort, as he let the ball bounce, flicked it over Milenkovic and drilled inches wide.
Fiorentina 2-1 Monza
Djuric 9 (M), Nico Gonzalez 32 (F), Arthur 78 (F)
Player statistic
| 9' |  |
Milan Djuric (Assist: Dany Mota) | ||
| Nicólas González (Assist: Antonin Barak) |
|
32' | ||
| Fabiano Parisi |  |
41' |
| 69' | |
Warren Bondo | ||
| Arthur Melo (Assist: Antonin Barak) |
|
78' |
Match statistic
