Serie A' MD31: Udinese - Fiorentina [30-03-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 31 - 30/3/08 (14.00 UK)
Udinese - Fiorentina

Stadio Friuli

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Fiorentina need a win as they meet in-form Udinese at the Stadio Friuli in Week 31. The Viola are in fourth place and are clearly aiming for Champions League qualification, while the Bianconeri are two positions behind hoping to win a place in the UEFA Cup.

Last week’s round was positive for both teams. The Tuscans were successful against Lazio, while the Friulani comfortably beat Livorno. Last year’s corresponding tie ended 1-0 in favour of the locals, while in Week 12 Fiorentina suffered a 2-1 home defeat. This will be the perfect chance for them to take revenge.

The Bianconeri are flying high and should have no problems in qualifying for Europe. However, Sampdoria are just one point behind which means the Zebrette cannot really afford any slip-ups. “We are in really good shape,” said boss Pasquale Marino. “This game against Fiorentina will be fundamental for us.”

The Viola are looking to manage their four-point advantage over Milan, but things could get complicated in the coming weeks given the imminent UEFA Cup quarter-finals. “It will be difficult to win in Udine and we will be missing Adrian Mutu and Fabio Liverani,” noted Coach Cesare Prandelli.

Udinese are one of Serie A’s most entertaining sides thanks to Marino’s attacking mentality. The Bianconeri will play with a 3-4-3 system and their boss should name an unchanged formation this week. Cristian Zapata and Asamoah Gyan are still out injured.

Andrea Coda could be preferred in defence to Tomas Zapotocny. Giandomenico Mesto and Andrea Dossena will play wide on the flanks. The locals’ trident should be formed by Toto Di Natale, Simone Pepe and Fabio Quagliarella.

Prandelli isn’t afraid of Marino’s tactics and should line-up with a 4-3-3 formation. However, there is bad news for the Viola. The injuries of Alessandro Gamberini, Martin Jorgensen and Franco Semioli are added to by the suspensions of Mutu and Liverani.

Sebastien Frey should take the gloves despite not being 100 per cent fit. Per Kroldrup may start in defence, while one from Manuel Pasqual and Massimo Gobbi should cover the left-back role. Pablo Osvaldo will replace Mutu in attack.

Keep an eye on: Giampaolo Pazzini (Fiorentina) – The former Atalanta striker scored the winner against Lazio last Saturday. Pazzo is still hoping to convince Italy boss Roberto Donadoni to take him to Euro ’08.

Last season: Udinese 1-0 Fiorentina

Form guide: Udinese (W D D W W) Fiorentina (W L W L W)


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Udinese (probable): Handanovic; Coda, Felipe, Lukovic; Mesto, Inler, D’Agostino, Dossena; Pepe, Quagliarella, Di Natale

Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Dainelli, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Donadel, Montolivo; Santana, Pazzini, Osvaldo

Ref: To follow...

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[dukeofdavinci]

Prandelli sees Friuli fireworks Saturday 29 March, 2008

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Cesare Prandelli is convinced Fiorentina’s showdown with Udinese will be as spectacular as it is crucial for the Champions League places.


“A victory would be a great step forward for us,” said the Viola boss who has a four-point lead over Milan and five ahead of Udinese.


“We are facing a spectacular Udinese side that halved their ticket prices on this occasion to ensure the stadium will be packed out, so it certainly won’t be easy. The atmosphere is going to be electric.”


Back in November the Friulani won 2-1 in Florence with goals from Fabio Quagliarella and Antonio Di Natale.


Meanwhile Prandelli has been taking advantage of the Easter break ahead of the UEFA Cup quarter-final with PSV Eindhoven.


“This week has been useful in resting and training properly. We also recovered some psychological energy and are ready for a new tour de force.


“Martin Jorgensen trained well and is fit to play, so are Christian Vieri and Tomas Ujfalusi, but Franco Semioli is out.


“All our concentration is focused on Udine. They have a very attacking approach and if the strikers are given space they can be decisive.”


Prandelli’s work with Fiorentina has impressed many in the peninsula and there are reports he was asked to take over at Inter.


“That is pure fantasy football. My desire is to stay in Florence and grow with this squad. We are doing well, but the fans have realised soon we will be competitive with any opponent.


“We are dreaming on a large scale and I know the club is also working on a new training facility.”

Fiorentina squad: Avramov, Cacia, Da Costa, Dainelli, Donadel, Frey, Gobbi, Jorgensen, Kroldrup, Kuzmanovic, Lupatelli, Montolivo, Osvaldo, Papa Waigo, Pasqual, Pazzini, Potenza, Santana, Ujfalusi, Vieri.




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[LAF]

1-1 Udinese so far.

Inler with a cracker.

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 31 - 30/3/08 (14.00 UK)
Udinese 3 - 1 Fiorentina
Inler 13 (U), Vieri 63 (F), Di Natale 72 (U), Quagliarella 77 (U)
Stadio Friuli

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Udinese won this battle to get back into the Champions League race and leapfrog Milan into fifth place.

This was set to be a thoroughly entertaining encounter between two of the most attack-minded teams in the top flight. To add spice, it was a head-to-head for European places and the Viola wanted revenge after losing 2-1 on home turf back in November. However, Adrian Mutu and Fabio Liverani were suspended, while Udinese had Cristian Zapata and Gyan Asamoah sidelined.

Fiorentina's last win at the Friuli was 2-1 in October 2001, followed by two draws and a 1-0 defeat a year ago. Fabio Quagliarella put the ball in the back of the net after a minute, but he was offside.

Zdravko Kuzmanovic brought a tough save out of Samir Handanovic from a Martin Jorgensen assist, but it was Udinese who broke the deadlock. Quagliarella tried to turn inside the area, but could only cut back for Gokhan Inler to unleash a left-foot screamer under the bar from outside the area.

Mario Alberto Santana fought back with a solo effort wide of the near post, then on 34 minutes Jorgensen flicked on a cross for Riccardo Montolivo's right-foot strike to crack against the woodwork.

Straight after the restart Sebastien Frey flew to parry a fierce Simone Pepe strike and Antonio Di Natale failed to make the most of the loose ball.

Quagliarella's left-foot strike forced another fine save out of Frey as Udinese tried to put the result beyond doubt.

Handanovic was not to be outdone and also performed heroics at the other end of the field on both Daniel Pablo Osvaldo and Giampaolo Pazzini's follow-up.

The Viola eventually got on level terms with Christian Vieri coming off the bench to net almost immediately. Giampaolo Pazzini held up Tomas Ujfalusi's cross for a Vieri looping header into the far top corner. He had been on the field for just four minutes.

Massimo Gobbi combined with Vieri, bringing a crucial tackle out of Damiano Ferronetti.

Udinese restored their advantage on 72 minutes with a classic counter-attack. Di Natale gathered from Inler on the halfway line and ran the entire length to drill past a helpless Frey at the near post.

Fiorentina were caught out on the counter again soon after, as Dossena's cross from the left found Quagliarella at the back post. Frey parried the header, but could do nothing on the follow-up.

Osvaldo flashed an angled drive across the face of goal, but they could not get back into the game.


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Udinese: Handanovic; Ferronetti, Zapotocny, Lukovic, Mesto, D'Agostino (Pinzi 80), Inler, Dossena, Pepe, Quagliarella (Floro Flores 83), Di Natale (Isla 75)

Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Gobbi, Kuzmanovic, Donadel, Montolivo (Osvaldo 51), Santana, Pazzini (Pasqual 68), Jorgensen (Vieri 59)

Ref: Morganti

wow, and just when i thought the viola could secure 4th they slumped just as milan.who will qualify for the cl next season??very intriguing.

[dukeofdavinci]

Prandelli blasts sluggish Viola Sunday 30 March, 2008

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Cesare Prandelli berated Fiorentina for their lack of character at the Stadio Friuli, but Pasquale Marino insists Udinese aren’t aiming for the Champions League.


The 3-1 result leapfrogs the Friulani into fifth place – just three points shy of the Viola in fourth – and Milan’s slip with Atalanta means it’s all to play for.


“It was a great game between two teams who tried to go for the win,” said Prandelli.


“We deserved to get back into it with Christian Vieri’s goal, but then were caught out. A team like ours cannot concede a goal like that on the counter-attack and affect our whole match.


“This is a missed opportunity, because the team played well and should have shown more character. It’s true Adrian Mutu and Fabio Liverani were suspended, but that doesn’t excuse who played today.”


Udinese were also missing several important players, but came away with a 3-1 victory that has sparked talk of a Champions League push.


“It was an entertaining encounter and both sides enjoyed their football,” added Marino.


“We were helped by the fact we broke the deadlock early on, but I think overall it was a deserved victory. We had a period of difficulty and now we’re visibly improving in terms of performance, fitness and confidence.


“Will we aim for fourth place? We have not talked about it and will only focus on the next game at Siena.”

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