Fiorentina and Atalanta played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in their Serie A encounter on Thursday, with both sides missing the opportunity to secure a much-needed victory amid their struggles for form.
Atalanta took the lead in the 41st minute when Charles De Ketelaere finished from close range after Nicola Zalewski delivered a low cross from the left.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage moments later, but Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea produced an excellent save to deny Nikola Krstovic’s header.
Fiorentina responded strongly after the break and equalised in the 53rd minute through Alieu Njie, who headed home Álex Jiménez’s cross at the far post.
The goal lifted the hosts, who continued to press for an advantage.
Their persistence paid off in the 61st minute when João Mário put Fiorentina ahead.
His effort from outside the penalty area took a significant deflection off Atalanta defender Relja Obric, wrong-footing goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi and finding the back of the net.
However, Atalanta restored parity in the 74th minute through Zalewski.
The midfielder fired a low shot through a crowded penalty area after receiving a pass from De Ketelaere, leaving De Gea unable to prevent the equaliser.
Both teams continued to search for a winner, with Carnesecchi denying Marco Brescianini and De Gea making another important save to keep out De Ketelaere.
Substitute Beto also missed an opportunity to snatch victory for Atalanta when he headed wide in stoppage time.
The result extended the disappointing run for both sides, with Fiorentina having suffered three consecutive defeats before the encounter, while Atalanta had managed just one victory in their previous six Serie A matches.
Their respective injury problems also continued, with Atalanta defender Thomas Kristensen forced off early in the first half.
