Milan have suffered their first defeat of the Serie A season, as despite a Zlatan Ibrahimovic double, Fiorentina emerged 4-3 winners with Dusan Vlahovic’s brace, a Riccardo Saponara stunner and Ciprian Tatarusanu howler.
The Diavolo had been unbeaten in the league since a 3-0 away to Lazio on April 26, a run of 17 rounds.
The Viola were decimated in defence, with Lucas Martinez-Quarta and Nikola Milenkovic suspended, plus Matija Nastasic, Erick Pulgar and Bartlomiej Dragowski injured, so Igor was the only available centre-back. Nico Gonzalez wasn’t fully fit either after three weeks out with COVID-19. The Rossoneri had an even lengthier absentee list, making the trip without Fikayo Tomori, Ante Rebic, Davide Calabria, Samu Castillejo, Mike Maignan, Daniel Maldini and Alessandro Plizzari, plus Alessio Romagnoli not at 100 per cent, so Matteo Gabbia got a rare start.
There was fog at the Stadio Franchi, but not enough to put the match in danger. Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the ball in the net after four minutes, but was clearly offside.
Fiorentina took the lead after a howler from former Viola goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu. He seemed to have the corner under control when plucking it out of the air, but fumbled horribly and Gabbia tried to shield it, but failed as Alfred Duncan prodded in from six yards.
Dusan Vlahovic threatened a second moments later, nodding Jose Callejon’s cross over the bar, while Sandro Tonali stung Pietro Terracciano’s gloves and the goalkeeper twice got his fingertips to Rafael Leao efforts.
Igor made a crucial block on Leao after the Simon Kjaer ball over the top, Giacomo Bonaventura drilled wide, but Ibrahimovic should’ve done better with a diving header inches wide from six yards on the Kjaer cross.
Just as Milan were pushing hard for the equaliser, Fiorentina doubled their lead with a sumptuous finish from Saponara, curled with the inside of the right boot into the far top corner from the edge of the box. He dedicated the goal to Davide Astori with the ‘captain, my captain’ salute.
Ibrahimovic missed another very promising opportunity set up by Leao after the restart, then the Portuguese forward curled just over the bar.
Fiorentina were more clinical, as Vlahovic snuck up behind Gabbia to control a Duncan ball over the top, took it around the on-rushing Tatarusanu and scored from a tight angle for 3-0.
The Viola allowed Milan right back into it with Bonaventura passing straight to Ibrahimovic inside his own penalty area, a gift the Swede wasn’t going to turn down. It made him the third-oldest player to score in Serie A at 40 years and 48 days.
Leao had penalty appeals rejected when he got into a tangle with Alvaro Odriozola, but moments later Theo Hernandez shrugged off Odriozola to pull back from the by-line for Ibrahimovic to sweep in first time from seven yards.
However, it was the Rossoneri’s turn to engage in some suicidal defending, Theo Hernandez caught in possession on the edge of his own area by Nico Gonzalez, setting up Vlahovic to fire in.
It still wasn’t over, as with the last kick of the game, Ibrahimovic’s header bounced off the woodwork, hit Lorenzo Venuti in the face and ricocheted into the net for 4-3.
Fiorentina 4-3 Milan
Duncan 15 (F), Saponara 45 (F), Vlahovic 60, 85 (F), Ibrahimovic 62, 67 (M), Venuti og 96 (M)