Fiorentina have one foot in the Conference League Round of 16 after a commanding 4-0 victory away to SC Braga, as Luka Jovic and Arthur Cabral bagged a brace each, while the hosts saw red.
The second leg of this play-off will be at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on February 23.
The Viola had just one point from their last five Serie A games, but booked a spot in the Coppa Italia semi-final. Josip Brekalo and Riccardo Sottil didn’t make the trip to Portugal against a Braga side who finished third in their Europa League group, but still amassing 10 points in six games. Vitinha was sold in January and veteran Pizzi brought in, while Ricardo Horta made his comeback as a substitute last week after injury.
Luka Jovic had a big chance in the opening minutes, his acrobatic volley forcing a save from close range, then crucial blocks prevented Nico Gonzalez and Giacomo Bonaventura making the most of the Cristian Biraghi roll across. On the resulting corner, Rolando Mandragora’s rocket was not far off target.
Riccardo Saponara did well to intercept a loose back-pass and go one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but then slipped at the crucial moment and the chance went begging.
Another Jovic header was too central, yet Braga had two huge chances in quick succession. On the first, Pietro Terracciano made a reaction save on the Sikou Niakate diving header, then Nikola Milenkovic was surprised by a cross, fortunate that Abel Ruiz then drilled the rebound wide.
There was an odd moment when Braga goalkeeper Matheus was accidentally clattered by teammate Victor Tormena, requiring several minutes of treatment to his shoulder.
Fiorentina broke the deadlock in first half stoppages when a throw-in routine allowed Biraghi to whip in the cross from the left for the glancing header of Jovic, who got between defenders to find that gap.
Vitor Tormena was extremely late in the tackle and ended up stamping on Jovic’s ankle in midfield. At first the referee had flashed a yellow card, but changed it to a straight red following an on-field VAR review.
Fiorentina took full advantage, as Saponara sprung the offside trap on a through ball and drew out the goalkeeper to roll across, allowing Jovic to slide in at the back post for an empty net.
Arthur Cabral came on and made an immediate impact with a spectacular goal. He held off a defender to shield the Biraghi throw-in as it bounced, turned and juggled the ball over another player and then smashed in on the half-volley.
There was a fourth late on, as Jonathan Ikone did well to harass Niakate into an error, drew defenders and goalkeeper away and generously rolled across for Arthur Cabral to complete his brace.
Braga 0-4 Fiorentina
Jovic 45, 60 (F), Cabral 78, 90 (F)
Sent off: Vitor Tormena 55 (B)
Player statistic
| 45+1' |  |
Luka Jovic (Assist: Cristiano Biraghi) |
| 50' |  |
Lorenzo Venuti | ||
| Tormena |  |
56' | ||
| 60' | |
Luka Jovic (Assist: Riccardo Saponara) | ||
| 79' | |
Arthur Cabral (Assist: Cristiano Biraghi) | ||
| 86' | |
Christian Kouamé | ||
| 89' | |
Jonathan Ikoné | ||
| 90+1' | |
Arthur Cabral (Assist: Jonathan Ikoné) |
Match statistic
