Fiorentina turned a half-time deficit into a lead at the Franchi, only for Zalewski to level for Sarri’s Atalanta and leave Vanoli’s side in the relegation zone.
Serie A · Regular Season – 9 · 29 Oct 2026
Fiorentina2 – 2Atalanta
Alieu Njie 53′
João Mário 61′Charles De Ketelaere 41′
Nicola Zalewski 74′
Half-time 0–1 · Venue: Stadio Artemio Franchi · Referee: Federico La Penna
Fiorentina and Atalanta drew 2-2 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Thursday evening in round 9 of Serie A. Charles De Ketelaere and Nicola Zalewski struck for the visitors, with Njie and João Mário scoring in between for the hosts.
Vanoli’s side had 60% of the ball and 26 shots to Atalanta’s 10, yet only 4 of those efforts were on target. Atalanta managed 5. Expected goals finished at 1.56 to 1.02 in Fiorentina’s favour.
Njie turns it round after De Ketelaere opener
Atalanta went ahead in the 41st minute. Zalewski provided the pass and De Ketelaere finished, giving Sarri’s team a 1-0 lead at the break despite Fiorentina’s territorial control.
The response came eight minutes after the restart. Álex Jiménez set up Njie in the 53rd minute, and the forward then turned provider in the 61st, laying on the goal for João Mário to put Fiorentina in front.
Njie was replaced after 69 minutes, having scored once, assisted once and created 2 key passes. His rating of 8.82 was the highest on the pitch. João Mário fired 5 shots in total, the most of any Fiorentina player among the top performers, while Jiménez created 4 key passes from his 90 minutes.
Zalewski answers 13 minutes later
The lead lasted 13 minutes. In the 74th minute, De Ketelaere returned the favour from the first half and Zalewski scored the equaliser, completing a goal and an assist in his 84 minutes. His rating of 8.8 was barely below Njie’s.
Federico La Penna showed five yellow cards. Elmas and Obrić were booked for Atalanta, while Viery, Pellegrino, for handball, and Gnonto went into the book for Fiorentina.
Nikola Krstović, fourth in the Serie A scoring chart with 6 goals, started up front for Atalanta but did not add to his tally.
Fiorentina stuck 18th on five points
The point leaves Fiorentina 18th with 5 points from 9 games, level with 19th-placed Parma on both points and goal difference. They have one win all season. Vanoli’s men are now five matches without a victory in all competitions, their last success being a 3-0 win over Pisa.
Atalanta are 12th on 11 points. Their winless run in all competitions now stands at four games, following the 4-4 draw with Frosinone, a 2-0 defeat to Ajax and a 3-2 loss to AC Milan.
This was the second successive draw between the clubs after the 1-1 in Florence on 22 May 2026.
Both sides play again on Monday 2 November. Fiorentina travel to Sassuolo, while Atalanta host Parma, the team level with the Viola near the foot of the table.
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