Fiorentina overcame the sending off of midfielder Matias Fernandez early in the second half to battle to a 1-1 draw at Bologna.
Having already been cautioned just after the restart, Chilean Fernandez was shown a red card on 57 minutes for pulling an opponent's shirt.
Nevertheless, the Viola - unbeaten in three previous Serie A matches and with coach Paulo Sousa serving out a one-game touchline ban - immediately rallied to take the lead through Federico Bernardeschi.
Although midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini equalised for the hosts on 63 minutes, Fiorentina held out to secure a hard-earned point at Renato Dall'Ara which keeps them third, but now only two points ahead of Inter Milan who travel to Verona on Sunday.
Bologna, who had lost at Frosinone in midweek, had an early chance when Godfred Donsah set up Mattia Destro, but the forward could not produce a finish.
The Viola threatened as Cristian Tello got clear, but goalkeeper Angelo Da Costa was quick off his line to clear and again denied the January signing with a smart near-post save before half-time.
Fiorentina's task was made harder following two rapid and needless cautions for Fernandez, but they responded on 59 minutes when Bernardeschi swept in Tello's cross for his first Serie A goal of the season.
Giaccherini, though, had soon levelled as he converted Donsah's ball in from the right.
Fiorentina goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu made a superb finger-tip save from a curling shot by Saphir Taider as the visitors closed out the match for a hard-earned point.