De Gea saves two penalties as Fiorentina defeat AC Milan

David De Gea was Fiorentina’s hero as they fought hard to secure a 2-1 against AC Milan.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper saved two penalties, with Yacine Adli and Albert Gudmundsson scoring the goals between a stunning Christian Pulisic volley.

The Rossoneri came into the clash after three wins but lost 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen midweek in the Champions League Matchday Two.

The Viola came into the clash after a Conference League win on Thursday against The New Saints,  their second victory in nine competitive games under Raffaele Palladino.

AC Milan got the opportunity to go front, but Morata’s glancing header from an Emerson Royal cross went wide.

Fiorentina were awarded a penalty when birthday boy Theo Hernandez mistimed his clearance and kicked Dodo’s boot.

Moise Kean stepped up from the spot kick, but Mike Maignan smothered his central attempt.

Kean eventually scored, but his goal was chalked off because he got himself in the way of a Danilo Cataldi strike and was offside when turning in the rebound.

The hosts eventually took the lead through on-loan Milan player Adli, who gathered from a throw-in, spun Christian Pulisic, and bent a right-foot snooker shot off the inside of the far post. As a mark of respect for Diavolo, he refused to celebrate against his old club.

Milan had the opportunity to restore parity when they were also awarded a spot-kick when Tijjani Reijnders tripped over Luca Ranieri as he ran onto the Pulisic through ball.

However, Theo Hernandez failed to covert as  De Gea got right into the bottom corner for the one-handed save.

This is the first time two penalties were saved in a match since January 2022 by two different goalkeepers in the exact Serie A match.

Kean again had the ball in the net straight after the restart, but he was offside running onto a ball over the top.

The referee awarded Milan another spot-kick from a corner when Matteo Gabbia anticipated Kean to the bouncing ball and had his foot kicked instead.

Tammy Abraham took it this time, but De Gea managed another incredible save near the bottom corner. 

This is the first time a goalie will save two penalties in a game since Federico Marchetti did it during the Carpi-Lazio clash in May 2016.

Milan eventually drew level four minutes later from open play. Theo Hernandez’s cross found Pulisic at the back post for an extraordinary right-foot volley, and the American hooked it back across the face of the goal and into the far top corner.

Fiorentina eventually restored their lead when Kean knocked down a long De Gea ball over the top, as Gudmundsson controlled it with his left foot, let it bounce, and smashed in with the right from just inside the area.

The match also witnessed the dismissal of Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino sent off for dissent, while Hernandez was also dismissed for insulting the referee after the final whistle.