Fiorentina were held to a 1-1 draw by Sampdoria at the Stadio Artemio Franchi during their Sunday afternoon Serie A fixture.
An early goal from Josip Ilicic was canceled out by Ricky Alvarez, whilst Joaquin Correa was sent off in a feisty affair in Tuscany.
Early on, the majority of the stadium thought Marcos Alonso had put the hosts into the lead, but the Spaniard’s shot went narrowly wide following his drive from distance. At the other end, striker Fabio Quagliarella came very close to scoring what would have been one of the goals of the season, although his bicycle kick saved by Ciprian Tatarusanu.
La Viola did soon take the lead through Josip Ilicic, the Slovenian playing a one-two with Borja Valero and finishing calmly under Emiliano Viviano to bag his 12th of the season. However, the lead would not last into the second half owing to an inspired strike from Ricky Alvarez, the former Inter man having a crack from distance that squeezed past Tatarusanu.
Ilicic came close again in the second half, his brilliant volley crashing into the advertisement boarding when it looked to have sneaked under Viviano at the far post. Substitute forward Mauro Zarate came on for the home side and started causing problems of his own, forcing Viviano into tipping his curling effort over the bar.
Joaquin Correa, who had been booked earlier in the encounter, was shown a second yellow for a cynical foul and given his marching orders. Ilicic had one final chance of finding the winner, but his free kick cannoned off the crossbar.
Quagliarella also had one final effort, his a sublime strike from long range that Tatarusanu tipped onto the bar. Jakub Blaszczykowski had his goal chalked off for offiside just as the referee blew for full time.
