Fiorentina salvaged a 2-2 draw against Tuscan neighbours Empoli at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in their Sunday afternoon Serie A fixture.
Goals from Marko Livaja and Marcel Buchel in the first half put the hosts under pressure, but Nikola Kalinic scored a brace in the second half to rescue a point.
The home side had the first opportunity in front of goal, Khouma Babacar coming close to squeezing his header past Lukasz Skorupski. At the other end, Massimo Maccarone was found free in the box by Piotr Zielinski, but the veteran was denied at point-blank range by Ciprian Tatarusanu.
Sustained pressure on the counter did see the away side take the lead, but in contentious circumstances. Former Atalanta striker Livaja was played through on goal by Riccardo Saponara, who thundered his effort past Tatarusanu, the goal awarded despite Livaja starting the move in an offside position.
Empoli doubled their lead shortly after. Summer signing Marcel Buchel received the ball outside the area, before taking a touch and firing it past Tatarusanu showing wonderful technique and execution. Fiorentina tried to respond before the half time whistle, but to no avail.
In the second half, the hosts reduced the deficit. Borja Valero fed the ball to Marcos Alonso, who crossed brilliantly for substitute Nikola Kalinic to head home and reignite their chances of earning points.
The Croatian was on target again moments later. Babacar latched onto the end of a lobbed pass from Federico Bernardeschi, driving a pass across the box for Kalinic to tap past Skorupski.
Kalinic hit the crossbar with ten minutes to go, while Livaja came the closest for Empoli in the dying minutes with an effort on the edge of the area; saved comfortably by Tatarusanu. Neither side could muster the strength to retake the lead.
