Serie A' MD34: Fiorentina - Palermo [19-04-08]

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Serie A Week 34 - 19/4/08 (19.30 UK)

Fiorentina - Palermo
Stadio Franchi

Fiorentina welcome a re-born Palermo to the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Week 34 knowing that they cannot fail to win if they are to qualify for Europe. But the Rosanero will be hoping to consolidate their positive run.

The Viola lie fourth in the table with a four-point advantage over Milan, which means they could be playing Champions League football next season. In last week’s round the Tuscans suffered a 2-0 defeat against Inter, but the Rossoneri weren’t able to reduce the gap after being defeated by Juventus.

However, it could be a different story this time around since the Milanesi should bag a comfortable home win against Reggina, leaving Fiorentina with no option but to win. Coach Cesare Prandelli feels his men have given their best in recent weeks. “I have to thank them for all their efforts,” he said. “It was hard to play against Inter after our midweek European clash versus PSV.”

Meanwhile, Palermo have been impressive recently and the re-appointment of Stefano Colantuono has boosted their morale. The Rosanero were successful against Juventus two weeks ago and also beat Catania last weekend. They are currently in 10th place but will be looking to end this season just behind the top six. Last year’s encounter between the two ended 3-2 in favour of the visitors in a game masterminded by Amauri, who netted a brace.

Prandelli should be able to count on his full squad for this tie apart from Franco Semioli, who is injured. Sebastien Frey will take the gloves despite not being 100 per cent fit. In defence Dario Dainelli will be replaced by Per Kroldrup while Marco Donadel should be preferred to Fabio Liverani in midfield.

The locals’ trident will be formed by Adrian Mutu, Giampaolo Pazzini and Mario Santana. The flamboyant Argentine winger has a Rosanero past and is eager to face his former club. “I had my first Serie A experience with Palermo and they had faith in me. I know that for them this will be like a derby, but we want a top-four finish.”

Rosanero Coach Colantuono will be missing several regulars for this clash. Andrea Barzagli, who could be joining La Viola at the end of this season, is suspended while Alberto Fontana and Fabio Simplicio are injured. Federico Agliardi will be confirmed between the posts while Cristian Zaccardo will replace Barzagli. Amauri will be the lone striker and the trident behind him will be formed by Bosko Jankovic, Fabio Caserta and Fabrizio Miccoli with Mark Bresciano, once again, left out.

Keep an eye on: Giampaolo Pazzini (Fiorentina) – The former Atalanta ace will have to prove he deserves a starting shirt so he has no option but to score on Saturday afternoon.

Last season: Fiorentina 2-3 Palermo

Form guide: Fiorentina (L W L W L) Palermo (L L L W W)

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

Palermo (probable): Agliardi; Cassani, Zaccardo, Rinaudo, Balzaretti; Guana, Migliaccio; Jankovic, Miccoli, Caserta; Amauri

Ref: To follow.

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[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 34 - 19/4/08 (19.30 UK)

Fiorentina 1 - 0 Palermo
Donadel 29 (F)
Stadio Franchi

A Marco Donadel screamer gave Fiorentina a hard-fought 1-0 win over Palermo, taking them closer to a Champions League spot.

Pre-season these teams were expected to battle for a UEFA Cup spot, but instead the Viola found themselves in fourth place and the Rosanero only just achieving mid-table security after back-to-back wins over Juventus and Catania. All eyes were on Fabrizio Miccoli and Federico Balzaretti, who returned to face their former club after bitter departures. Andrea Barzagli sat out a ban in the visiting defence and Alberto Fontana was injured.

Curiously, this fixture had only ended in a draw once in 19 editions - back in 1949 - and Palermo caused upsets by winning here twice in the past three visits.

Giampaolo Pazzini and Amauri had efforts in the opening three minutes, but on nine a set-piece fell to Kuzmanovic, whose left-foot strike was brilliantly saved by Federico Agliardi's trailing foot.

The referee waved play on after Mario Alberto Santana's penalty appeals for a Federico Balzaretti challenge, but on 18 minutes a splendid Adrian Mutu header from Santana's cross thumped the near post with Agliardi beaten.

Amauri was booked for leading with his elbow and will be suspended for Palermo's next game.

The deadlock was broken by an absolute screamer. The ball fell to Marco Donadel from 20 metres for a searing right-foot strike that whizzed past Agliardi at the base of the near post.

Tomas Ujfalusi limped off with a muscular problem and there was a moment of fair play when Balzaretti confessed he had touched the ball, so his team did not get a corner.

Agliardi fingertipped a Mutu free kick over the bar, but Palermo nearly equalised with Bosko Jankovic's searing run and angled drive deflected off Alessandro Gamberini to skim a coat of paint off the far post.

Palermo also lost a player to injury, as Giulio Migliaccio sustained a thigh problem, then after the break Giuseppe Biava was stretchered off.

Mutu's spectacular solo run saw him blaze past Leandro Rinaudo, but the cutback found his teammates all too slow to make the most of it.

An acrobatic Amauri overhead kick turned Jankovic's cross over, while ex-Viola man Miccoli came off the bench. Within minutes Miccoli had sparked a dangerous attacking move that Sebastien Frey parried from Jankovic's angled drive.

Palermo were reduced to 10 men on 72 minutes, as Pazzini was clear on goal for the counter when Leandro Rinaudo shoved him in the back, leading to an inevitable second bookable offence.

Agliardi beat away the resulting Mutu free kick and incredibly substitute Christian Vieri blasted the loose ball off target from four yards with his first touch of the game!

Yet 10-man Palermo had their best chance of the game so far. Frey was at full stretch to palm away a Miccoli strike from the edge of the box and then turned the point-blank Mark Bresciano follow-up on to the base of the post.

During that move Amauri clashed heads with Dainelli and the Fiorentina defender came off worse, bleeding heavily from the back of his skull, but he was able to continue after treatment. The Rosanero refused to give in and kept the game open until the final whistle.

Fiorentina: Frey; Jorgensen, Ujfalusi (Dainelli 31), Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Liverani (Montolivo 59), Donadel; Santana, Pazzini (Vieri 73), Mutu

Palermo: Agliardi; Zaccardo, Rinaudo, Biava (Cassani 54), Balzaretti; Guana, Migliaccio (Tedesco 40); Jankovic, Bresciano, Caserta (Miccoli 59); Amauri

Ref: Damato

Sent off: Rinaudo 72 (P)

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