Fiorentina dismantled Austrian side LASK 7-0 at the Stadio Franchi, a victory that significantly bolstered their Conference League goal difference.
The emphatic win featured a standout performance from Amir Richardson and a brace by Riccardo Sottil.
The Viola had been in stellar form domestically, winning their last eight Serie A matches consecutively. However, their European campaign required recovery after a 2-1 defeat to APOEL.
Adding to their challenges, they suffered elimination from the Coppa Italia on penalties to Empoli and dealt with the unsettling news of Edoardo Bove’s medical emergency.
Fortunately, Bove was discharged from the hospital with an implanted defibrillator. Meanwhile, Danilo Cataldi and Marin Pongracic were sidelined with injuries, and Cristiano Biraghi remained frozen out amid speculation about his potential January departure.
LASK, on the other hand, arrived in Florence depleted, missing key players including Andres Andrade, Moses Usor, Lenny Pintor, Boateng, Philipp Ziereis, and suspended goalkeeper Jorg Siebenhandl.
The match kicked off with Moise Kean finding the back of the net just two minutes in after Rolando Mandragora’s lofted pass over the top.
Christian Kouame stepped aside, allowing the ball to bounce as the goalkeeper failed to connect, leaving Kean to slot into an empty net. However, VAR intervened and ruled it out for a handling offence by the striker.
Fiorentina didn’t wait long to break the deadlock. Fabiano Parisi volleyed a cross back from the by-line, setting up Riccardo Sottil for a stunning acrobatic finish into the roof of the net from six yards.
Despite their dominance, Fiorentina missed opportunities to extend their lead. Kouame wasted an open goal after the goalkeeper’s misjudgment, drilling his shot wide.
The Viola were nearly punished for their laxity when Michael Kayode miscalculated a chest back, forcing teenage goalkeeper Tommaso Martinelli into a brilliant save to push Maximilian Entrup’s effort onto the crossbar before it was cleared off the line.
Fiorentina doubled their lead through Kouame, who capitalized on a loose ball following what appeared to be a foul on Kean. Drawing out the goalkeeper, Kouame unselfishly set up Jonathan Ikone for a simple tap-in.
The third goal came before halftime, with Sottil delivering a pinpoint free kick to the far post, where Amir Richardson headed across the goalkeeper and into the net from close range. Kean nearly added a fourth before the break, striking the crossbar after a clever turn inside the penalty area.
Sottil completed his brace in determined fashion, firing home a rebound after his initial 12-yard effort was blocked. Substitute Albert Gudmundsson made an instant impact, coming close with a shot that grazed the upright before setting up Rolando Mandragora with an inspired disguised pass, allowing the midfielder to stroll the ball into the net for 5-0.
A touch of fortune produced the sixth goal, as Andrea Colpani’s intended pull-back deflected off Filip Stojkovic’s shins and into the net.
Gudmundsson later converted a penalty to seal the 7-0 scoreline after Lucas Beltran was fouled by Flecker.
Fiorentina nearly earned another spot-kick in stoppage time, but Kouame was flagged offside before being brought down.
