Fiorentina have dropped points for the first time this season at home to Cagliari, thanks to a last-ditch equaliser from Mauricio Pinilla.

La Viola dominated possession early on in the Serie A clash but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, with Alberto Aquilani and skipper Manuel Pasqual threatening in the opening exchanges.

The hosts then lost Juan Cuadrado to an ankle problem, with Spanish summer signing Joaquin Sanchez introduced for a home debut before Mario Gomez also left the field with a knee problem.

Cagliari carried a threat at the other end and should have broken the deadlock before the break when Davide Astori headed wide from close range, before Radja Nainggolan clipped the crossbar with a volley.

Both sides pressed for a winner after the interval, with Luca Rossettini turning onto his own bar as he attempted to clear Aquilani's cross.

Just as the match looked to be petering out, Fiorentina took the lead 20 minutes from time through Valero.

The playmaker ghosted onto Aquilani's measured cross towards the far post and planted a header into the corner to give La Viola the advantage.

Cagliari pressed for an equaliser and in the closing stages and snatched a dramatic point, with Pinilla heading into the bottom corner after meeting an inviting cross from Victor Ibarbo.

Fiorentina threw men forward in the five minutes of added time, but Giuseppe Rossi's penalty appeals were turned away on a frustrating afternoon for Vincenzo Montella's side.

Substitute David Pizarro was clearly livid with the decision and confronted the referee, getting a straight red card for his protests as the hosts finished with 10 men.