David De Gea’s penalty heroics hands Fiorentina 2-1 win over AC Milan

Former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea produced a match-winning performance as Fiorentina secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over AC Milan at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. In a game full of drama, De Gea’s two stunning penalty saves were crucial in securing the win for the home side.

The match had it all: well-taken goals, missed penalties, incredible saves, and red cards. Fiorentina had an early opportunity to take the lead, but Moise Kean missed a penalty in the 22nd minute, setting the tone for a roller-coaster encounter.

AC Milan struck first through Yacine Adli, whose low shot hit the post and rolled into the net in the 35th minute, giving Milan a 1-0 lead. Fiorentina responded with determination, and it was David De Gea who kept his side in the game, saving two crucial penalties from Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham to prevent Milan from extending their lead.

Christian Pulisic leveled the score for AC Milan on the hour mark, but Fiorentina reclaimed the advantage in the 73rd minute when Albert Gudmundsson fired a superb shot into the net. The match continued to heat up with emotions running high in the closing stages. Fiorentina’s coach, Raffaele Palladino, was sent off for protesting a decision late in the game, and Milan’s Theo Hernandez was also shown a red card for dissent in added time.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze, who has been linked with a possible January exit from Milan, was introduced in the 82nd minute but failed to make a significant impact on the outcome. Milan’s struggles continued, as this marked their second defeat in just five days, following their Champions League loss to Bayer Leverkusen.

For Fiorentina, De Gea’s penalty-saving heroics and resilience were key to the victory, while AC Milan faces questions about their form and the future of key players like Chukwueze, who remains a target for Premier League clubs.

Fiorentina’s win lifted them up the Serie A table, while Milan will need to regroup quickly as they look to get back to winning ways.