Wasted opportunity. Yet another for Spalletti's Roma, which once again stops just one step away from the finish line. Which in this case consisted of the top of the standings, albeit in cohabitation with Napoli: a possibility that became concrete after the defeat of Juve but left in Florence with all the regrets of the case. From the confrontation between Franchi, in fact, it is Fiorentina who comes out with the 3 points and the yellow and reds just have to reflect on the umpteenth misstep of a rather disappointing season so far.
“The team played a good game, we just have to learn to be meaner and take the victories – Spalletti's analysis. – We were already in control in the first half but we were not very lucid, if you are not determined enough you leave the matches open until the end. And then it can happen that you have to comment on a defeat."
The coach is not entirely wrong: in fact, this match could have ended in another way. The most tempting chances were all from Roma and the decisive one from Fiorentina was weighed down by an error by the assistant, careless in not annulling Badelj's goal due to an offside by Kalinic. Furthermore, there is a contact in the purple area between Tomovic and Dzeko at least suspicious, which could have directed the match in a very different way.
However, the Giallorossi, in light of the stakes at stake, could and should have done more: in fact, it doesn't happen many times that Juventus lose and when it happens you have to take advantage of it.
A more decisive approach would probably have broken the backs of a normal Fiorentina, still far from the levels of the first Sousa management. However, the Portuguese had the merit of holding up the match at a distance and keeping the match in balance until the end.
And in the 83rd minute, shortly after a very occasional Nainggolan (sensational post to beat Tatarusanu), he picked up the ante thanks to Badelj, very good at killing Szczesny with a shot from distance (the goal, however, as previously mentioned, had to be disallowed for an active offside by Kalinic).
“The boys have shown that they really want this victory – commented Sousa. – We have to improve more in the defensive phase but I'm satisfied, beating a team like Roma is always a good additive”. The Giallorossi, on the other hand, return home with a heavy defeat, as well as with the feeling of having thrown away the first championship chance of the year.
