Udinese secured a remarkable 2-1 win over Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the first match of Serie A’s 17th round. Despite an early penalty from Riccardo Sottil giving Fiorentina the lead, Udinese staged a second-half comeback with goals from Lorenzo Lucca and Florian Thauvin. The victory lifts Udinese to 23 points, while Fiorentina remain on 31, now level with Juventus.
The game began brightly for Fiorentina, who were awarded a penalty in the 8th minute after Kristensen fouled Sottil in the box. Initially, referee Feliciani did not signal for a penalty, but a VAR review overturned the decision. Sottil confidently converted from the spot with a central strike, giving the hosts an early lead. Udinese also appealed for a penalty later in the half, but VAR ruled against them. The first half ended with Fiorentina leading 1-0, albeit at a relatively slow pace.
The second half, however, turned the game on its head. Udinese equalised in the 49th minute when Lorenzo Lucca capitalised on a chance to fire past goalkeeper David de Gea. Moments later, Lucca nearly doubled his tally with a stunning bicycle kick that struck the post.
Udinese’s winner came in the 57th minute when Florian Thauvin delivered a precise left-footed curler into the far corner, leaving de Gea helpless. Despite Fiorentina’s manager making multiple substitutions, including Mandragora, Ikoné, Kouamé, and Gudmundsson, the hosts failed to find an equaliser.
The best chance for Fiorentina came in the 74th minute after a mistake by Udinese goalkeeper Sava. Kouamé’s header could have set up Kean for a tap-in, but the forward missed from close range. In the closing minutes, Sava redeemed himself by denying Ikoné to secure a historic win for Udinese.
This victory marks Udinese’s first league win against Fiorentina since March, ending Fiorentina’s long unbeaten streak in Serie A. Manager Kosta Runjaic’s side responded strongly after their Coppa Italia defeat to Inter, showcasing resilience and clinical finishing.
Udinese’s triumph moves them further away from the relegation zone, while Fiorentina will need to regroup as they aim to maintain their position in the top half of the table.
