MD1: Fiorentina - Empoli 07-08

[Jager]

Fiorentina - Empoli

Stadio Franchi


It’s a Tuscan tangle to start off the season for Fiorentina and Empoli, two sides who have built themselves high targets to match last season. For Cesare Prandelli it is finally a chance to get going with a real Serie A challenge without the constraints of Calciopoli and he will be eager to see his side come out of the starting blocks firing on all cylinders.

Empoli, meanwhile, enter 2007-08 on the back of their best ever Serie A campaign. With the fate of Chievo in mind – whose dream involvement in Europe at the start of a promising season was eventually overshadowed by final day relegation – Gigi Cagni will want to get a solid start in the domestic campaign before continental distractions begin to stretch his squad.

On paper this is a welcome opener for the Florence club. Not since 1997 have they lost a home League match against their neighbours. In fact that 2-1 win for the Azzurri almost a decade ago was the last time Empoli recorded a win over the Viola in the top Division. The purple-clad club already have a win in this fixture during the calendar year, goals from Luca Toni and Adrian Mutu sealing a 2-0 back in February, but Prandelli no longer has his World Cup winning hitman to rely on.

The role of filling Toni’s boots falls to Giampaolo Pazzini, and despite bringing in Christian Vieri, Anthony Vanden Borre and Arturo Lupoli it seems likely that ex-Chievo winger Franco Semioli will be the only debutant for the Viola on Sunday. Another new boy, Federico Balzaretti, will be sidelined for some time after suffering a nasty injury in pre-season. But the basis of the starting XI will hope to pick up where they left off at the tail end of the previous campaign – six games unbeaten.Tomas Ujfalusi is suspended.

Empoli will expect to hand a first start to Uruguayan midfielder Guillermo Giacomazzi. The South American will be tasked with creating chances in the way Argentine Sergio Almiron did last term before his summer switch to Juventus. Moving the other way was Claudio Marchisio who will also be likely to make his bow for his new club in midfield. Elsewhere Cagni will be relying on last season’s top scorer Luca Saudati to provide the goals and up-and-coming defender Andrea Raggi to show why he is so highly-rated.

The Stadio Castellani outfit have a big meeting with Inter in Week 2 so will be eager to rack up points early on or risk finding themselves on zero points going into Week 3. Fiorentina find themselves in the same boat as they travel to the San Siro next and a slip-up on the opening day would pile on the pressure going into that encounter. It all adds up to add extra impetus to the big kick-off and a match already pre-loaded with the standard local derby intensity.

Keep an eye on: Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina) – No longer an Azzurrini, the Milan native is now expected to show that he belongs at this level as a key playmaker in the Viola’s midfield. Touted as the new Andrea Pirlo, we will see this season if that tag is accurate or just another case of sensationalist hype.

Last season: Fiorentina 2-0 Empoli

Form guide: Fiorentina (- - - - -) Empoli (- - - - -)


Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Potenza, Gamberini, Dainelli, Pasqual; Montolivo, Donadel; Semioli, Mutu, Santana; Pazzini

Empoli (probable): Bassi; Tosto, Marzoratti, Adani, Raggi; Marchisio, Marianini; Vannucchi, Giacomazzi, Buscè; Saudati

Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

A new formation for Fiorentina this season then, 4-2-3-1.

Montolivo playing deeper than I would like though.

[dukeofdavinci]

Prandelli aims to amaze Sunday 26 August, 2007

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Cesare Prandelli says his Fiorentina’s aim is “to amaze,” starting from today’s heated Tuscan derby with Empoli.

“If we use the spirit of last year then in a few months, with the sense of security and experience, we can pull surprises on any field of play,” noted the Coach who took his side to a UEFA Cup place despite a 15-point Calciopoli penalty.


“We have to be a team capable of amazing people. Empoli have not changed much from last term, so they will be a dangerous adversary.”


The Viola are without summer signing Franco Semioli, but Christian Vieri is in the squad.


“Our strength is the fact we can adapt to different tactical systems. If the team has four wide men, then we can play in a certain way, if not we can go back to last year’s formation. I can say that Mario Alberto Santana will start.”


Before the Calciopoli scandal struck over the summer of 2006, Fiorentina had qualified for the Champions League, so will they be aiming for the same target now those penalties have expired?


“I am disappointed there was some scepticism from the outside in pre-season. Last year the defence was criticised by everyone, then proved to be the most solid in Serie A.”


The sale of Luca Toni to Bayern Munich – where has scored three goals in as many Bundesliga games – was considered a major gamble by the Tuscan club.


“We have invested in youth. It is a courageous decision I expect will pay off in time. I also believe the critics will come to the same conclusion in the long run. For a club that has two great campaigns to then turn to younger players is not so much rare as unique in today’s football.”


Fiorentina will have an extra reason to celebrate today, as it is the 81st anniversary of the club’s foundation.


The side was created in a fusion of Libertas and Club Sportivo Firenze on August 26, 1926 and the famous purple strip was adopted three years later.



Fiorentina squad: Avramov, Dainelli, Donadel, Frey, Gamberini, Gobbi, Kroldrup, Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Lupatelli, Lupoli, Mazuch, Montolivo, Mutu, Osvaldo, Pasqual, Pazienza, Pazzini, Potenza, Santana, Vanden Borre, Vieri.

prandelli on a mission.

[Aladino]

A derby on the first day... should be great! Good luck to both teams, let hope Empoli can continue with their great form from last season. But I am rooting for a Fiorentina win

[Aladino]

1-0 PAZZINI

[Aladino]

2-0 Mutu

[Aladino]

3-0 MONTO! CHE GOL!!!

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 1 - 26/8/07 (14.00 UK)
Fiorentina 3 - 1 Empoli
Pazzini 56 (F), Mutu 64 (F), Montolivo 70 (F), Saudati 92 (E)
Stadio Franchi

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Fiorentina took a while to get going, but dominated the Tuscan derby against rivals Empoli.

This heated Tuscan derby kicked off the season between two teams with real ambition. The Viola reached Europe despite a 15-point Calciopoli penalty, while Empoli qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history. The Azzurri's last Serie A win here was 1997.

Now that Luca Toni has moved on to Bayern Munich, Giampaolo Pazzini has the reins. Franco Semioli was out injured and Tomas Ujfalusi suspended.

The game took a while to get going, but on 14 minutes Antonio Busce' just failed to get the decisive touch on a cross that traversed the entire face of goal, as Manuel Pasqual's challenge proved crucial.

Giampaolo Pazzini couldn't get the final tap-in on a corner kick, then had a weak penalty appeal waved away as he tripped up when running alongside Lino Marzoratti.

Gamberini's header from a Fabio Liverani free kick was off target and, on the counter, Daniele Adani flung himself in front of Adrian Mutu's shot. Sebastien Frey parried a Vittorio Tosto piledriver and Riccardo Montolivo's effort was well held.

Fiorentina threw on Kuzmanovic for Michele Pazienza and the home side finally broke through with a lot of help from goalkeeper Daniele Balli. He got a hand to Montolivo's strike, tipping it straight into the path of Pazzini for the easiest of finishes.

The Viola secured the points soon after, as Mutu cut back to abandon his marker and find the space to comfortably beat Balli with a low strike.

Empoli substitute Sebastian Giovinco tried to get his side back into it and Frey held an Igli Vannucchi set-piece.

However, Montolivo made it 3-0 with a sublime individual effort. The Under-21 international left Andrea Raggi floundering and surprised Balli with a marvellous chip from a tight angle.

Christian Vieri made his official Fiorentina debut in place of Mutu for the final 16 minutes at the Stadio Franchi. He immediately made his mark with a shot just over the bar.

Luca Saudati got a late consolation goal with a curling finish, but it did little to repair a poor Empoli performance.


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Fiorentina: Frey; Potenza, Dainelli, Gamberini, Pasqual; Liverani, Pazienza (Kuzmanovic 46); Santana (Donadel 61), Montolivo, Mutu (Vieri 74); Pazzini


Empoli: Balli; Tosto, Adani, Antonini (Giovinco 60), Buscè; Giacomazzi, Marianini (Marchisio 61), Marzoratti (Vanigli 72), Raggi; Saudati, Vannucchi


Ref: Trefoloni

match report.

viola proving they dont miss toni.

[azzurri]

Good to see Giovinco and Marchisio got some playing time.

[D-Kin]

My man Pazzini on the scoresheet, no surprise there.