Fiorentina KO in Verona: Bernede decides in recovery. Fear for Kean

Verona, 23 February 2025 – A goal in injury time by Antoine Bernede condemns the Fiorentina at the third consecutive defeat but above all gives three golden points in the key to salvation for Hellas Verona who won 1-0 over the Viola at the Bentegodi. Three points born from the great spirit and extreme compactness shown by the yellow and blues who, after having taken some risks at the beginning of the match, were able to take the measure of Fiorentina, restraining them with a very attentive defense. In the second half, then, the hosts also stepped up their game in the offensive phase, relying on their speed in the open field and creating good opportunities with Sarr and Dawidowicz. Put on the ropes and left without Kean - He was carried out on a stretcher after collapsing to the ground following an accidental collision with an opponent – Fiorentina timidly tried to react with a foray into the area by Zaniolo but was then unable to do anything when, in injury time, the new entrant Bernede won a rebound with Marì, skipped past Comuzzo and scored the decisive goal.  

Zanetti and Palladino's choices

Paolo Zanetti opts for a three-man defense, lining up his Hellas Verona with a 3-4-2-1: among the three central defenders of Montipò, Dawidowicz returns to form a department together with Coppola and the other wingman Valentini. Faraoni and Tchatchoua take charge of the two flanks, with Niasse and Duda completing the midfield. Behind the striker Sarr, Suslov and Livramento act instead. Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino remains faithful to the tried and tested 4-2-3-1: Comuzzo returns to the center of the Viola defense, deployed alongside Ranieri and with Dodò and Parisi on the side lanes. Cataldi and Mandragora form the dam in midfield. Finally, up front, there is room for the creativity of Zaniolo, Beltran and Folorunsho, who have the task of supporting striker Kean, who is back in the starting lineup after serving his suspension.

First half

The men ofThe Palladinos they don't waste time and at the first attack, after less than 5', they already create a first colossal opportunity with Kean who, on a cross from Folorunsho, hits the ball with his head from the center of the area and immediately calls Montipò into action, who however knows how to be ready and blocks the ball on the line. A first alarm bell for Hellas who in the first quarter of an hour suffers a lot from the high rhythms imposed by the Viola but then manages to take countermeasures to not concede spaces and curb the opponent's maneuver. The pace of the game, consequently ends up lowering and this helps Zanetti's team a lot who at 22' try with a long-distance shot from Sarr, on which De Gea knows how to be ready by deflecting the ball into a corner. The match continues on the tracks of balance and without further, great opportunities, with Verona continuing to close the spaces for Fiorentina's vertical plays and leaving no room for maneuver for the opposing attackers, who receive very few tameable balls. The Viola, consequently, have to wait for the final minutes of the first half to be seen again near Montipò with Kean's turn that, however, fails to give the right power to the ball.

Second half

After the break, Hellas returned to the pitch with a very determined attitude and tried to find spaces, putting the Viola defence under pressure and creating a good opportunities with the Livramento's cross shot, in the 56th minute, goes just wideFiorentina's plans risk being further disrupted shortly after the 60th minute when Ken, after being treated for a hard blow to the face, he had to leave the field on a stretcher, creating no small amount of apprehension in a Bentegodi stadium that applauded him as he left the pitch. The attacker was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a head injury. His situation does not cause particular concern. In his place, Fagioli came on together with Richarson (immediately cautioned) who replaced Mandragora, with Beltran effectively moving to the role of "false nine". However, it was Verona who managed to restart better and create the first real chance of the second half with Dawidowicz's header that goes just wide by a few centimetres. The carousel of substitutions for the Viola continues with the additions of Ndour and Marì, while, with a quarter of an hour to go, Zanetti throws Oyegoke and Mosquera into the fray for Faraoni and Sarr. Despite the substitutions made by Palladino, however, it is still Verona who put the most brilliance on the pitch, both in defense, where the Scaligeri close every gap with foresight, and in attack, where they look for quick plays. The efforts of the Gialloblù are thus rewarded in full recovery when the newly entered Bernede wins a rebound in the penalty area with Marì, avoids Comuzzo's sliding tackle and scores the match-winning goal with his right foot. The scoreboard: Hellas Verona (3-4-2-1): Montipò; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Valentini; Faraoni (from 77' Oyegoke), Niasse, Duda, Tchatchoua; Suslov, Livramento (from 71' Bernede); Sarr (from 77' Mosquera). Coach Zanetti. Fiorentina (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dodò, Comuzzo, Ranieri (from 72' Pablo Marì), Parisi; Cataldi, Mandragora (from 68' Richardson); Zaniolo (from 84' Caprini), Beltran, Folorunsho (from 72' Ndour); Kean (from 68' Fagioli). Coach Palladino. Scorers: Bernede (Hellas Verona 90+3') Note - Yellow cards: Duda, Zanetti (Verona Coach), Folorunsho, Richardson, Oyegoke, Cataldi.