Moise Kean was a late absentee for Fiorentina’s 2-1 comeback win at Cagliari, with the club confirming the striker missed the trip for family reasons. Even without their top scorer, the Viola dug in, flipped an early deficit, and came away with three points that keep their European push very much alive.
The tone from the club after full time was calm and protective. Director Daniele Pradé, speaking to Sportitalia, put it simply: “We must support him now, and we hope he returns with the same desire he had before. Those who replaced him did well, and I am happy about Beltran’s goal; he needed it so much.” The message was clear: Kean’s wellbeing comes first, and the squad can carry the load in the meantime.
Fiorentina announced before kickoff that Kean was unavailable due to family reasons. No further details were shared, and that’s usually how it goes in Italy when personal matters are involved. The club is keeping things private, while publicly rallying around a player who has been central to their season.
Kean is the team’s reference point up front. He stretches defenses, he presses from the front, and he’s been the most reliable finisher in a squad that shares goals around. Take him out, and you lose a focal point in transition and a target in the box. That’s why the response in Sardinia mattered: it showed Fiorentina could adapt on a night when their Plan A wasn’t available.
With Kean out, the coaching staff leaned on the group. Lucas Beltran stepped into the spotlight and took his chance with a crisp finish that swung the match. It felt like a weight off his shoulders. He’s had good performances without the final touch lately; this time he found it. Robin Gosens added the other goal, underlining the value of late-season contributions from everywhere on the pitch.
Inside the dressing room, the focus is on support and continuity. The message from Pradé echoed that: look after the player, keep the team rolling. There’s no firm word yet on whether Kean will be available for the next Serie A match against Empoli at the Franchi. The staff won’t rush it. With five league games left and Europe on the line, the balance between compassion and competition is delicate, and Fiorentina are trying to get it right.
The comeback at Cagliari was more than just a good away win. It pushed Fiorentina up to 8th in the Serie A table, just four points shy of a Champions League place with five games to go. That gap is small enough to make every weekend feel like a swing round. Drop points, and you’re chasing again. Win, and the pressure flips to the teams above.
The game itself didn’t start the way Fiorentina wanted. Roberto Piccoli pounced early for Cagliari, and the hosts looked lively. The response was mature. Fiorentina stabilized, moved the ball with more care, and grew into the contest. Gosens brought them level, and Beltran finished the job. It wasn’t flashy; it was controlled, professional, and exactly what you want on the road in late April.
The timing matters because the calendar is getting crowded. Fiorentina have that Tuscan clash with Empoli next, and then a European trip to Seville for the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League semifinal against Real Betis on May 1. Travel, recovery, and rotation become as important as finishing chances. This is where depth pays off—especially up front if Kean needs more time before returning.
How do they handle it? Expect the coaching staff to spread minutes across the front line and wide areas, keeping legs fresh for both competitions. Beltran’s goal helps because it builds trust in the rotation. If he’s scoring, the team can afford to be patient with Kean. Set pieces and contributions from midfield runners will also be key, taking some pressure off the No. 9 role while the attack reshuffles.
There’s also the psychological side. A comeback win like this tends to give a team that extra yard—players try the brave pass, full-backs push a little higher, and the press snaps harder. You saw some of that in Sardinia after the equalizer: more confidence, more control, fewer nerves. That’s the energy you want to take into a semifinal on Spanish soil.
Empoli won’t be easy. They scrap for every point, and the Franchi can feel tense when the stakes are high. But this is the kind of fixture a team with European ambitions has to manage: solid start, clean transitions, keep control late. If Kean makes it back, great—he gives you the extra bite in the box. If not, the blueprint from Cagliari is there: patient build-up, brave wide play, and trust in the next man up.
For now, Fiorentina have done the two things that matter in spring: protect the person and protect the points. They respected Kean’s situation and got the result anyway. Five league games, a European semifinal, and a four-point push toward the Champions League places—there’s plenty left to play for, and the margin for error is tight. Nights like the one in Sardinia are how you stay in the race.
