Empoli - Fiorentina 1-1 (NEWS)
Udinese - Cagliari 1-1 (NEWS)
Empoli holds back Fiorentina, Niang responds to Beltran
Empoli and Fiorentina draw the Arno derby which ends 1-1.
In the first half Beltran scored for the Viola, in the second half they equalized on a penalty for Niang, who came on at the start of the second half.
M'Baye Niang is the first Empoli player capable of scoring in his first two appearances for the Tuscan club in Serie A in the three-points-for-a-win era.
Furthermore, the Senegalese always scored from the spot.
Fiorentina at the 'Castellani' received a brief protest from its fans who asked the Italian team for greater commitment.
For Empoli, but above all for Davide Nicola, it is the fifth consecutive useful result in the five matches in which he led the Tuscans: 2 wins and three draws, never happened, it is a record.
Heavy point for Empoli who rises to 22, trailing Sassuolo and Verona who are on 20. The match is played in front of 12,000 people with over 4,000 Viola supporters.
For Italian it is the 140th different formation as coach of Fiorentina.
Faraoni wins the ballot with Kayode on the right lane, while Milenkovic and Martinez Quarta are preferred to Ranieri in the center of defense.
Bench also for Arthur, who leaves room for Mandragora, and Bonaventura, with Beltran lined up behind Belotti.
There is Sottil, and not Ikoné, in the offensive left wing position.
No surprise for Empoli, Walukiewicz is back among the starters after the disqualification in Salerno.
The match didn't take off in the first half.
There are few real opportunities.
In the 29th minute Fiorentina took the lead with Beltrán.
Action played with the hosts temporarily down to ten due to Grassi's injury (later replaced by Marin), Mandragora serves the Argentine in the area who, turning, crosses with his right and beats Caprile with a diagonal low shot.
An advantage legitimized by the Viola when in the 42nd minute it hit the post with Martinez Quarta fitting in Biraghi's free-kick cross.
The Argentine burns Cacace and scares Caprile.
A lackluster first half for Empoli, only dangerous with Cambiaghi going down.
Empoli's recovery started very differently with the additions of Niang and Cancellieri: the formation changed to 4-4-2.
Cancellieri himself is among the most active.
In the first minutes Cambiaghi, always lively, steals the ball from Nico Gonzalez: he goes vertically at speed and serves Cancellieri on the right who kicks with first intention with the inside right.
Central shot, blocked by Terracciano.
In the 10th minute Cancellieri progressed again, as soon as he was in the area he was put down by Faraoni: referee Pairetto undoubtedly pointed to the spot.
Niang goes, as with Salernitana, and from eleven meters he displaces Terracciano.
Match drawn and Fiorentina in a bit of difficulty despite the many substitutions.
In the 19th minute, a powerful shot from over 30 meters by Marin, a great Terracciano who manages to block it.
The last emotion was caused by Fiorentina with Bonaventura who tried to exploit a rash exit from Caprile, Walukiewicz saving on the line.
The difficult period continues for Fiorentina, who, despite falling behind in the standings, are close to Roma on 38 points, but slip seven points away from fourth place.
Udinese never great against the small teams, draw number 14
Nothing to do: Udinese, who beat the second, third and fourth of the championship, have not yet achieved full spoils against their opponents from sixth place down and have to complain for the umpteenth time for having allowed themselves to come back from home after an excellent first half.
For Cagliari, the 1-1 draw in Udine is instead a precious point, legitimized by a courageous second half in which they even risked the coup.
Thanks to the muscle ailment that prevented Captain Pereyra from being back after the disqualification, Cioffi returns to the line-up that won against Juve on Monday, but has to give up Kamara who doesn't even go to the bench due to a last-minute problem with his foot.
Ranieri relies on Deiola and Jankto in midfield - Nandez and Prati sacrificed - with Gaetano inspiring Luvumbo and Lapadula, an attacking pair deployed to the detriment of Pavoletti and Petagna.
At the first real attack Udinese took the lead: cross by Ehizibue and body feint by Lucca which allowed Zemura to receive in the area in an excellent position.
The Zimbabwe winger's right-footed shot goes into the top corner.
Cagliari felt the pinch and in the 25th minute, first Samardzic and then again Zemura were unable to find the winning touch after yet another cross from Ehizibue.
At the half-hour mark the second goal seemed to be a done deal: Thauvin caused panic on the right, he delivered a cross to Lucca who, very free, headed home with arrogance, but the ball went out by centimetres.
The guests' first conclusion came in the 43rd minute with a free kick from Lapadula which forced Okoye into a save on the ground.
A few moments after the equalizer: Augello darts down the left and unleashes a perfect cross on which Gaetano - hitherto impalpable - puts the ball into the corner.
No changes in the interval, but the Sardinians came out of the tunnel full of energy for the equalizer and in the 3rd minute Lapadula hit the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the small area after a favorable rebound.
The Friulians skidded but in the 14th minute it was Lucca who volleyed just wide, following an assist from Thauvin.
The French world champion repeats himself a minute later.
Cioffi wants more push on the flanks and in the 20th minute he replaces both flanks: Ehizibue and Zemura off for Ebosele and Joao Ferreira.
The challenge was played head-on: in the 23rd minute Lapadula fell just short of the winning tap.
Udinese responds in the 29th minute with Samardzic who takes over following a strike from Ebosele and shoots, right-footed: the trajectory goes off not far from the crossbar.
Round of changes: Cioffi revolutionizes the attack by introducing Success and Brenner;
Ranieri throws the old guard Nandez and Pavoletti into the fray.
The two teams try hard, but in the end the desire not to lose and to move the table prevails.
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