Florence watched two unsettled sides leave the Artemio Franchi with little comfort from a 1-1 draw. Fiorentina found a response after falling behind to Napoli, but neither club could turn a lively evening into the result needed to alter an uncertain start to the season.
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Billy Gilmour gave Napoli the advantage in the 23rd minute, striking first time from a corner with no defender close enough to block the Scottish midfielder. Álex Jiménez brought Fiorentina level shortly after the interval, his effort taking a decisive deflection off Rafa Marín before beating Vanja Milinković-Savić.
The point leaves Napoli provisionally ninth after two victories from their opening five matches. Fiorentina, with only one win in the same number of games, sit 16th.
There had already been plenty of disorder before Gilmour’s goal. Fiorentina began with more of the ball, only for Napoli to take greater control around the 20-minute mark. In a brief spell between the 17th and 19th minutes, Fagioli and Rafa Marín both struck the crossbar; the latter chance followed a fine pass from Franco Mastantuono, the Real Madrid loanee.
Napoli then went close again, with the post and David de Gea combining to deny them before Gilmour finally converted. The visitors had further chances to widen the gap before half-time, but Mastantuono headed over and Jiménez could not find the finish.
Fiorentina changed the picture after the break. Former Real Madrid academy player Víctor Valdepeñas entered for Viery, having joined in an €8 million deal, and the home side switched to a three-man defence. Within five minutes, Jiménez’s shot rebounded off Rafa Marín and found its way in for the equaliser.
Paolo Vanoli’s team grew in confidence. Mastantuono created an opening for Fagioli in the 57th minute, but the midfielder sent his attempt narrowly wide. Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri responded by replacing the ineffective Rasmus Højlund with Lucca and bringing on Noa Lang for Neres.
The clearer opening belonged to Fiorentina in the 64th minute. Njie led a rapid counterattack and supplied Valdepeñas, whose finish was kept out by Milinković-Savić’s outstretched hand.
Both benches continued to turn to their squads. Fiorentina introduced Pedro Gonçalves and Beto for Pellegrino and Atta in the 66th minute, while Napoli sent on Favasuli for Politano two minutes later. Gnonto replaced Njie later on, with Pongračić taking Ranieri’s place. Napoli also introduced Anguissa for the tiring Lobotka for their final push.
A point preserved, rather than gained
De Gea ensured Fiorentina did not lose ground late on. With around 15 minutes remaining, the Spanish goalkeeper produced a left-handed stop to repel Neres from close range. Three minutes later he made another important save, this time from Favasuli’s header.
Napoli had started the final stretch with the greater obligation after leading the match, but there was no second breakthrough in the closing five minutes and stoppage time. Mastantuono completed the full 90 minutes without making a defining contribution, while Valdepeñas’ saved opportunity stood as Fiorentina’s best chance to turn their recovery into a win.
For both clubs, the Franchi offered noise, chances and three efforts against the woodwork in a frantic first half, but only one point each at the end of it.
