Fiorentina played its first match since the death of captain Davide Astori, beating last-place Benevento 1-0 on an emotional Sunday at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

The 31-year-old Astori was found dead in his hotel room last Sunday after a suspected cardiac arrest before his team was due to play an Italian league match at Udinese.

Fiorentina fans hold scarves and a portrait of captain Davide Astori, prior to the Serie A football match between Fiorentina and Benevento, at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. The 31-year-old Astori was found dead in his hotel room last Sunday after a suspected cardiac arrest. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)

"Davide was, and will always remain, our light," said new Fiorentina captain Milan Badelj. "No one will ever forget this match, it will be difficult ... Florence has shown us its soul, we are all united after a tragedy like this."

The Fiorentina players and staff all came out for the warmup wearing Astori No. 13 shirts and lined up next to a giant poster of his shirt and the words "captain forever." They also held up a banner with "Ciao Davide" before kickoff.

Fiorentina supporters compose the word Davide to honor Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, prior to the Serie A football match between Fiorentina and Benevento, at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. The 31-year-old Astori was found dead in his hotel room last Sunday after a suspected cardiac arrest. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)

There were plenty more No. 13 shirts and banners in the stands, including in the visitors' section, with one huge banner reading: "There are men who never die. There are stories that are passed on through eternity. Bon voyage, Captain."

Purple and white balloons were released after an impeccably observed minute's silence as part of a series of deeply moving scenes, which had many in tears.

Fiorentina's Vitor Hugo celebrates with teammates after scoring the Serie A football match between Fiorentina and Benevento, at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)

The players also stopped to remember Astori after 13 minutes and there was special choreography in the stands, with the fans turning one end purple with "Davide 13" while everyone chanted Astori's name — as they did for most of the match.

Vitor Hugo, the player who replaced Astori in the starting lineup, scored the only goal of the match in the 25th minute, leaping high to head in Riccardo Saponara's corner for midtable Fiorentina.

Fiorentina's Vitor Hugo, center, stop and hand salute in front of a jersey portraying Davide Astori as he celebrates after scoring, during the Serie A football match between Fiorentina and Benevento, at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. The 31-year-old Astori was found dead in his hotel room last Sunday after a suspected cardiac arrest. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)

He celebrated by running to the bench with a T-shirt bearing Astori's face, giving it to a member of staff and saluting it.

Both teams hit the post in the final minutes, through Massimo Coda and Badelj.

A Fiorentina supporter holds up a banner showing Fiorentina captain Davide Astori reading "Ciao Capitano" (Bye Captain) during the Serie A football match between Fiorentina and Benevento, at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. The 31-year-old Astori was found dead in his hotel room last Sunday after a suspected cardiac arrest. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)

Many of the players collapsed to the ground after the final whistle, with tears streaming down their faces.

"I hope that, from above, Davide is proud of us, I am convinced he gave a hand to Vitor Hugo to jump so high, he is always on the pitch with us," said Fiorentina midfielder Marco Benassi.

"It has been a difficult day, like the whole week, we have felt a great emptiness."

Fiorentina players wear the number 13 jersey of Davide Astori as they entered the pitch prior to the Serie A football match between Fiorentina and Benevento, at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. The 31-year-old Astori was found dead in his hotel room last Sunday after a suspected cardiac arrest. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)

Juventus' Paulo Dybala celebrates after scoring during the Serie A football match between Juventus and Udinese, at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. (Alessandro di Marco/ANSA via AP)

JOY FOR LA JOYA

Paulo Dybala scored twice as Juventus beat Udinese 2-0 to move top of Serie A, despite Gonzalo Higuain missing another penalty.

Juventus moved two points ahead of Napoli, which visits Inter Milan later.

Dybala, nicknamed "La Joya" (the jewel), broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, curling a trademark free kick into the top corner.

Juventus' Paulo Dybala, left, celebrates with teammate Gonzalo Higuain after scoring, during the Serie A football match between Juventus and Udinese, at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. (Alessandro di Marco/ANSA via AP)

Higuain should have doubled his side's lead after Dybala was fouled in the area by Gabriele Angella, but he saw his spot kick saved by Udinese goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri shortly before halftime.

It was the fifth penalty Higuain has missed in Serie A.

Higuain atoned for his error by setting up Dybala's second four minutes after the break.

Dybala has scored four goals from his last three matches.

AC Milan's Andre Silva, third from left, celebrates after scoring during a Serie A soccer match between Genoa and AC Milan, at Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018 (Simone Arveda/ANSA via AP)

Andre Silva seals dramatic AC Milan win

Andre Silva snatched Milan’s victory with the last kick of the game against Genoa, his debut Serie A strike in dramatic circumstances.

There were concerns the game would be postponed by heavy rain, but fortunately it calmed before kick-off and the pitch drained well.

The Rossoneri saw their 13-match unbeaten run ended by Arsenal in the Europa League on Thursday and needed to get right back on track in Serie A. Davide Calabria, Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonelli were all carrying knocks, so Fabio Borini was used as a make-shift right-back. The hosts missed Armando Izzo and Miguel Veloso, but had Adel Taarabt and Giuseppe Rossi back on the bench.

Milan had lost their last three visits to Marassi without scoring a goal, conceding five.

Jack Bonaventura blasted over early on, but Mattia Perin performed a stunning one-handed save on Nikola Kalinic, who kept his finish low from 10 yards.

Diego Laxalt flashed a dangerous ball across the six-yard box and Andrej Galabinov just failed to make contact, as while Milan kept possession for long periods, they moved the ball too slowly and without much creativity. Even a Hakan Calhanoglu free kick from just outside the D was passed into Perin’s arms and Kalinic fired over.

Galabinov nodded wide and Milan did have the ball in the net on 42 minutes, but Bonaventura was offside from a Calhanoglu header on the corner before he turned in.

AC Milan's Andre Silva, third from left, scores during a Serie A soccer match between Genoa and AC Milan, at Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018 (Simone Arveda/ANSA via AP)

In the last kick of the half, a poor Cristiano Biraghi clearance fell to Calhanoglu, but he blasted over from the edge of the area.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was well behind a Pandev snapshot and Genoa thought they had scored on 53 minutes when Luca Rigoni nodded in an Oscar Hiljemark free kick, but after a long wait, it was ruled offside using VAR.

Moments later, it should’ve been 1-0 to the hosts, but Ervin Zukanovic somehow turned his header wide from six yards when unmarked.

Bonaventura had a couple of attempts from the edge of the area, then Suso flashed a ball across the face of goal that nobody connected with. The Spaniard also curled a free kick just wide of the near top scorer.

Deep into stoppages, ex-Milan striker Gianluca Lapadula got his head to a Darko Lazovic cross, but put it over the bar.

With the very last kick of the game, Suso whipped in a cross and Andre Silva rose to get the header, Perin’s fingertips not enough to keep it out at the near post. It was the Portugal international’s debut Serie A goal at long last after netting earlier this season in the Europa League.

Inter Milan's Danilo D'Ambrosio, right, waves as he walks with teammates applauding at the end of a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Napoli, at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Sunday, March 11, 2018. The match ended in a scoreless tie. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

TITLE BLOW

Napoli's hopes of winning a first Serie A title since 1990 took a blow as it was held to a 0-0 draw at Inter Milan.

Napoli trails leader Juventus by a point, with Juventus having a game in hand.

Both sides had chances in an entertaining match, with Inter going closest to breaking the deadlock when Milan Skriniar headed a free kick off the right post early in the second half.

Lorenzo Insigne could have given Napoli the lead but he fired narrowly off target on two occasions.

Inter remained fifth and is a point behind Lazio, which has played one game more.

OTHER MATCHES

The fight for survival is heating up.

Three teams — Crotone, Sassuolo and Spal — are now on 24 points, two more than 19th-place Hellas Verona and one point below 15th-place Chievo Verona.

Spal got sucked into the relegation zone after drawing 1-1 at Sassuolo, which is above it only thanks to a better head-to-head record.

Crotone moved out of the bottom three after a surprise 4-1 win over Europa League-chasing Sampdoria.

Sampdoria remained seventh, three points behind AC Milan, which snatched a 1-0 win at Genoa thanks to Andre Silva's header in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Lazio also scored deep in stoppage time, with Ciro Immobile's stunning back-heeled lob salvaging a 2-2 draw at Cagliari, which has 26 points.

Elsewhere, Atalanta beat Bologna 1-0.