Fiorentina 2-1 Crystal Palace Player Ratings: Rolando Mandragora 8.5/10 MOTM as Fiorentina Fight Back to Claim 2-1 Victory

A thrilling UEFA Conference League quarter-final second leg saw Fiorentina fight back to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. The match had many twists and kept fans hooked from start to finish. In many ways, it felt like a game of two very different halves.

Crystal Palace took an early lead against the flow of the game. Ismaïla Sarr scored a fine header in the 17th minute, and it looked like a surprise result could be coming. But things changed quickly when Jaydee Canvot gave away a clear penalty after a clumsy foul on Rolando Mandragora. Albert Gudmundsson calmly scored from the spot to make it 1-1 before halftime.

That goal lifted Fiorentina. In the second half, they controlled the game and pushed Palace back. Substitute Cher Ndour scored a great long-range goal to seal the win, while Palace struggled to respond after injuries hurt their momentum. Here are Sportsdunia's Fiorentina vs Crystal Palace player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Fiorentina improved a lot after halftime, taking control of the game and turning things around with better energy and attacking intent.
• Rolando Mandragora ran the midfield and won the key penalty, while Cher Ndour came off the bench to score the winning goal.
• Crystal Palace lost control after two first-half injuries, which affected their balance and made it harder to stay organized.

Fiorentina Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace

Here are the Fiorentina Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace.

Goalkeeper

David de Gea - 6.0: Couldn't do much about Sarr's well-placed header. He had a relatively quiet evening otherwise, making a couple of routine saves. What stood out to us was his calmness in possession, completing 87% of his passes and providing a steady base from the back.

Defenders

Pietro Comuzzo - 6.0: A mixed bag for the defender before he was substituted. He was solid for the most part, but picked up a needless yellow card for a clumsy challenge. He looked a bit shaky at times, but did his job without any major errors leading to chances. Not his best day, but not his worst either.

Marin Pongracic - 6.5: A very physical performance. He was booked for a rash challenge on Yéremy Pino but was otherwise quite composed. We noticed he was crucial in breaking up play, though his distribution wasn't always perfect.

Luca Ranieri - 6.5: An industrious performance from Ranieri. He made an impressive four interceptions and was strong in the tackle. However, he also picked up a yellow card and lost possession a few too many times for our liking. He was a warrior out there but lacked a bit of refinement on the ball.

Midfielders

Jack Harrison - 7.5: A really bright spark on the flank. Harrison was a constant outlet for Fiorentina, delivering several dangerous crosses and getting a shot on target himself. His work rate was phenomenal, tracking back to make three clearances and recover the ball five times.

Rolando Mandragora - 8.5: Our Man of the Match, without a doubt. He was absolutely everywhere. He ran the show from midfield, created four chances, and most importantly, won the penalty that changed the game. He drew six fouls, showing how much of a handful he was for the opposition.

Robin Gosens - 6.5: A decent shift from Gosens before being taken off. He got into a great position for a header which he should have done better with. He worked hard up and down the left flank, winning five of his duels and contributing defensively.

Nicolò Fagioli - 6.0: He was tidy in possession during the first half but failed to make a significant impact on the game. He was subbed at half-time as the manager looked for a more attacking impetus.

Forwards

Albert Gudmundsson - 7.5: Showed nerves of steel to slot home the penalty under pressure. He was a constant threat with four shots, even if two were blocked. He looked dangerous every time he got the ball, and his goal was the catalyst for the comeback. He was a key part of the attacking force.

Manor Solomon - 8.0: A fantastic creative performance. He provided the crucial assist for the winning goal and created three chances in total. His direct running and quick feet caused endless problems for the Palace defence.

Roberto Piccoli - 5.0: A really frustrating night for the striker. He was a physical presence but lost a staggering 13 duels and was incredibly wasteful in possession. He had four shots but none really troubled the keeper, and he just couldn't seem to get a foothold in the match.

Substitutes

Cher Ndour - 7.5: The match-winner. Came on at half-time and completely changed the dynamic. His goal from distance was a moment of pure quality that decided the tie. A huge impact from the bench.

Manager

P. Vanoli - 8.0: His substitutions were spot on. Bringing on Cher Ndour at halftime was a masterstroke that won his team the game. He recognised the need for a change and his tactical switch paid off handsomely, turning a potential defeat into a memorable victory.

Crystal Palace Player Ratings vs Fiorentina

Check out the Crystal Palace Player Ratings vs Fiorentina.

Goalkeeper

Dean Henderson - 6.0: He made four saves, including a couple of really sharp stops inside the box. He couldn't do anything about the perfectly placed penalty, and was perhaps a little unsighted for the second goal. His distribution was a bit erratic, finding its target only 53% of the time.

Defenders

Maxence Lacroix - 6.0: His evening was cruelly cut short by injury. In his 41 minutes, he was solid, winning all of his duels and making some key clearances. It was a shame to see him go off; Palace missed his presence at the back. It's hard to give a full rating, but he was doing well.

Jaydee Canvot - 4.5: A very difficult night for the defender. He was otherwise solid, making six clearances, but his clumsy foul for the penalty was the game's turning point. It was a moment of panic that cost his team dearly. From our perspective, that one mistake overshadowed his entire performance.

Chris Richards - 7.0: A colossal performance in the air. He won an incredible seven of his eight aerial duels and made eight clearances. He was a rock at the back for Palace, repelling wave after wave of attack. He was let down by those around him for the goals.

Midfielders

Daniel Muñoz - 7.0: A very positive display from the midfielder. He provided a wonderful cross for Sarr's goal, creating what was a huge chance. He was a constant threat down the right and worked tirelessly, even making three interceptions. A top effort in a losing cause.

Tyrick Mitchell - 6.0: A mixed performance from Mitchell. He made a couple of key passes and was solid in some of his duels. However, he was dribbled past twice and struggled to contain Fiorentina's wide players at times. A busy but not entirely effective evening.

Daichi Kamada - 7.0: A workhorse in the middle of the park. Kamada made four tackles and was tidy in possession with an 86% pass accuracy. He tried to get his team moving forward but was often fighting a losing battle against a dominant Fiorentina midfield. We admired his effort and determination.

Adam Wharton - 6.0: Looked bright in his 30 minutes on the pitch, even creating a chance. His unfortunate injury was a massive blow for Palace. The team seemed to lose a bit of composure and control in midfield after he was forced off. A real what-if moment.

Forwards

Ismaïla Sarr - 7.5: Took his goal brilliantly with a powerful header. He was Palace's most dangerous player, with both his shots hitting the target. He worked hard defensively too, but picked up a yellow card for his troubles. A fine individual performance that deserved more.

Yéremy Pino - 6.5: A lively but ultimately frustrating performance. He created two chances and looked sharp on the ball, but his end product was lacking. He also got a yellow card and seemed to lose his cool at times. You could see the talent, but it didn't quite click for him.

Jean-Philippe Mateta - 5.0: Really struggled to make an impact and was substituted at half-time. He won just a third of his duels and was often isolated upfront. From our perspective, he looked off the pace and couldn't hold the ball up effectively to bring others into play.

Substitutes

Jefferson Lerma - 6.0: Came on for the injured Wharton and put in a shift but couldn't replicate Wharton's early promise.

Chadi Riad - 5.5: Replaced the injured Lacroix and found it tough going, picking up a yellow card for a poor foul.

Jørgen Strand Larsen - 5.5: Brought on for Mateta to offer a different threat but missed a decent chance and couldn't impose himself.

Will Hughes - 6.0: Added some energy but couldn't change the course of the match in the final stages.

Manager

O. Glasner - 6.0: His game plan was ruined by two first-half injuries. His team started well and scored, but they couldn't cope once Fiorentina found their rhythm. The substitutions he made didn't have the desired impact to get back into the game.

Man of the Match

Rolando Mandragora was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Jaydee Canvot was the worst performer.