Robin Gosens celebrates after scoring second goal against Real Betis (Photo by Giuseppe … More
Trailing after the first leg, Fiorentina knew they needed a special performance to knock out Real Betis and advance to the UEFA Conference League Final. Robin Gosens gave them exactly that, but La Viola came up short against the effervescent Spanish side to lose 4-3 on aggregate.
There were some notable changes for Fiorentina, boss Raffaele Palladino not only recalling Moise Kean but also bringing Dodô in at right-back. The Brazil international only had surgery to remove his appendix 13 days earlier, making a remarkable recovery and immediately getting back into action.
Just as it had the previous week in Seville, the game began at breakneck pace. Both teams pushed to find an opening, David De Gea called into action to deny Pablo Fornals, Isco and Giovani Lo Celso.
Robin Gosens and Fiorentina shine on set pieces
At the other end, Kean had a good chance, before a well-worked corner saw a header from Pietro Comuzzo cleared off the line and the rebound was blocked by Marc Bartra. Antony saw one good chance denied by former Manchester United team-mate De Gea, but got the better of the goalkeeper a few minutes later with an excellent free kick.
Yet having worked so hard to extend their advantage, Betis suddenly found themselves on the back foot. Another great corner delivery from Rolando Mandragora was met by a wide open Gosens, the wing-back directing his header into the far bottom corner to mark his seventh goal of the season.
Just eight minutes later, Fiorentina had another corner. This time the ball was whipped in by Yacine Adli, but it would once again be Gosens who met it, flicking a glancing header into the nearside corner to completely wrongfoot Francisco Vieites.
In truth the goals were only a small part of the impact Gosens would have on the entire second leg as he constantly found himself heavily involved in the action at both ends of the field.
Super Robin Gosens not enough for Fiorentina
According to fbRef.com statistics, the Germany international recorded 61 touches, including two progressive carries, four progressive passes made and five received. No fewer than 22 of his touches were in the attacking third, with six inside the opposition penalty area, Gosens creating one goal scoring opportunity for a team-mate.
Meanwhile, he also did his part to deny Betis time and space in possession, notching four tackles, three interceptions and a block, the totality of his performance prompting one of Italy’s major sports papers to dub him “Super Gosens” on Friday’s front page (shown below).
However, with the tie deadlocked at 3-3, the game went into Extra Time where Betis ultimately proved to be too strong for Fiorentina. A clever pass from Aitor Ruibal sent Antony away down the right and he rolled the ball to Abde Ezzalzouli at the far post, the Morrocco international making no mistake.
Robin Gosens looks like superb signing
Just like that, Fiorentina – unlike fellow Serie A side Inter – were denied the chance to reach a third consecutive European Final as Betis will now meet Chelsea in Poland despite the best efforts of Gosens and his team-mates.
After seeing him grab four goals in his last seven games, La Viola can at least be pleased that the former Atalanta man has proven to be one of the best signings of this current campaign.
Having initially signed Gosens on loan from Union Berlin, German outlet Kicker believe that a clause to sign him outright has been triggered. That will reportedly see Fiorentina hand over just €7.5 million ($8.44 million) for a player who has weighed in with seven goals and nine assists in all competitions.
He might not have been able to help them reach the Conference League Final, but Fiorentina will be glad to have ‘Super’ Robin Gosens around now and in the future.
