Serie A | Fiorentina 0-0 Parma: A point that cannot give Viola joy
A point takes Fiorentina out of the drop zone for the first time since October, but it feels like a wasted opportunity, as Parma are now practically safe.
The Viola’s positive run of form ground to a screeching halt after back-to-back defeats in the Conference League to Jagiellonia, even if they qualified in extra time, and 3-0 to Udinese in Serie A. Preparing for the Round of 16 with Rakow on Thursday, they couldn’t afford rotation in this relegation battle.
Dodo returned from suspension, replaced on the naughty step by Fabiano Parisi. Moise Kean, Manor Solomon, Luca Lezzerini and Tariq Lamptey were ruled out. Parma were revitalised by three straight wins and a draw against Cagliari, though Adrian Bernabé, Sascha Britschgi, Pontus Almqvist and Matija Frigan missed out. Zion Suzuki returned to the bench after surgery on a hand fracture in November.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Luca Ranieri couldn’t get control of a scuffed acrobatic volley on the Roberto Piccoli knockdown, while Gabriel Strefezza blasted over on the counter-attack after robbing Marco Brescianini.
Mandela Keita’s daisy-cutter from outside the area skimmed the base of the near post, but Fiorentina stepped up a gear after the restart, Jack Harrison’s cross for Piccoli forcing a desperate Enrico Delprato block.
Rolando Mandragora’s acrobatic volley sailed over, while both Piccoli and Giovanni Fabbian failed to get on the end of a Nicolò Fagioli cross from six yards.
The point takes Fiorentina out of the bottom three for the first time since October, but it means Parma are now almost guaranteed Serie A safety, and the Viola were jeered off the field by their own fans.