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Friendlies: Vieri nets on Viola debut Wednesday 8 August, 2007

Christian Vieri took just 10 minutes to score his first goal for Fiorentina, but there was a nasty injury for Federico Balzaretti.

This evening the Tuscan team had its traditional match against the youth side and the seniors celebrated the debut of summer signing Vieri with a 5-0 win.

Bobo stepped on to the field in place of Giampaolo Pazzini in the second half and within 10 minutes had hit the back of the net by converting a penalty for a foul on Nocciolini.

In a touching gesture, when the spot-kick was awarded it was the rest of the team that suggested Vieri step up.

Cesare Prandelli fielded a first half line-up with the 4-2-3-1 system headed by Under-21 international Pazzini.

The squad looked tired from pre-season training regimes and didn’t break through until the 40th minute, when Pazzini turned in a Franco Semioli corner kick, although some say Adrian Mutu got the final touch.

There were massive changes at the break and Pazzini found the net again before making way for ‘new boy’ Vieri, who scored the penalty and also hit the woodwork in another move.

Young French forward Lepiller’s shot from the edge of the area and Fabio Liverani’s solo effort also got on the scoresheet in the 5-0 victory.

There are concerns over Balzaretti, who was stretchered off during the second half and taken straight to hospital at nearby Borgo San Lorenzo.

The former Juventus defender required stitches to a deep cut on his right thigh and there are fears he may also have damaged the muscle.

First half: Frey, Potenza, Dainelli, Gamberini, Pasqual, Donadel, Pazienza, Gobbi, Semioli, Mutu, Pazzini
Second half: Lupatelli, Vanden Borre, Kroldrup, Mazuch, Balzaretti, Paolucci, Liverani, Lepiller, Kuzmanovic, Nocciolini, Pazzini (Vieri 59)

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