Serie A' MD37: Fiorentina - Parma [11-05-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 37 - 11/5/08 (14.00 UK)

Fiorentina - Parma
Stadio Franchi

Both Fiorentina and Parma will be desperate for points when they meet at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Week 37 – but for very different reasons. The Tuscans are chasing a top-four finish while the Emiliani are fighting against relegation.

Last weekend was positive for the Gialloblu, but awful for the Viola. Parma managed to beat Genoa at home, while Fiorentina were defeated by Cagliari. The Crociati are still third from last, while the Gigliati have dropped one position and are now fifth, one point behind Milan.

One week ago the Tuscans’ campaign seemed to be going as hoped, but it’s quickly turning into a disaster. The Viola deserved to reach the UEFA Cup Final but were defeated on penalties by Rangers, then Milan managed to overtake them in the table. “We will fight until the end,” stated Cesare Prandelli, but the Gigliati fans are wondering whether that will be enough…

Parma have one foot in Serie B even after their win against Genoa. Now they need two miracles against Fiorentina and Inter in order to stay up. “Our fans will help us,” claimed President Tommaso Ghirardi. “We have dropped too many points, but I am sure we will give our best in Florence next Sunday.”

The Viola will be without the suspended Manuel Pasqual and Adrian Mutu. The absence of the Romanian, banned for the rest of the season, is a massive blow for Fiorentina. However, Prandelli will stick to his favourite 4-3-3 formation with two midfielders, Martin Jorgensen and Massimo Gobbi, playing as attacking full-backs.

In midfield Marco Donadel should be preferred to Fabio Liverani. The trident could be formed by Mario Santana, Giampaolo Pazzini and Pablo Osvaldo. Christian Vieri is injured while Franco Semioli will sit on the bench.

Parma boss Hector Cuper is happy with the return of several regulars after suspension, but Fernando Couto is still out for the same reason. Nicola Pavarini will be preferred to Luca Bucci for the second consecutive week. In defence Giulio Falcone and Paolo Castellini will start. Andrea Gasbarroni should sit on the bench initially, while up front it looks like Reginaldo next to Cristiano Lucarelli.

Keep an eye on: Giampaolo Pazzini (Fiorentina) – Il Pazzo has to prove a point after several disappointing performances. Now that Mutu is out he will have all the attacking responsibilities on his shoulders.

Last season: Fiorentina 1-0 Parma

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

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

Parma (probable): Pavarini; Coly, Paci, Falcone, Castellini; Dessena, Morrone, Cigarini, Mariga; Reginaldo, C.Lucarelli

Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 37 - 11/5/08 (14.00 UK)

Fiorentina 3 - 1 Parma
Budan 11 (P), Santana 39 (F), Semioli 77 (F), Osvaldo 86 (F)
Stadio Franchi

Fiorentina recaptured fourth place with this hard-fought victory and Milan's loss in Naples, but Parma are staring relegation in the face.

This was a must-win game for both sides, as the Viola needed to recapture fourth place off Milan and the Gialloblu were stranded in the relegation zone. Former Parma star Adrian Mutu will miss the rest of the season after a two-match ban for insulting the referee, while Christian Vieri is injured. The visitors had Luca Bucci, Domenico Morfeo, Andrea Pisanu and the suspended Fernando Couto missed this trip, but 4,000 fans travelled to support them.

Parma were without an away victory since April 2007 and their last win in Florence was April 2002.

At full stretch Nicola Pavarini pushed away a Kuzmanovic snapshot, while an acrobatic Stefano Morrone effort was charged down.

It was Parma who took the lead on 11 minutes when Igor Budan was left unmarked to nod in at the back post from Ferdinand Coly's deflected cross. The visitors lost Giulio Falcone early on after an awkward fall, making way for Rossi.

Fiorentina were shell-shocked, but began to pour forward and Giampaolo Pazzini almost scored the goal of his career, as he went on a strong run and hit a swerving strike that fizzed inches past the bar.

On 27 minutes Kuzmanovic's header from a corner was going to equalise, but Francesco Parravicini was ready for a goalline clearance.

Reginaldo went on a mazy run and fired over, but Pavarini scrambled a save on Osvaldo's volley from eight yards.

Fiorentina equalised moments later in a goal created by Riccardo Montolivo, who dribbled past three players and the goalkeeper to cut back for Mario Alberto Santana's tap-in into an empty net.

In the first minute of the second half Pavarini flew to push a Santana screamer out from under the crossbar and from the resulting corner parried a Kuzmanovic follow-up.

Pavarini did brilliantly to save a curling Fabio Liverani free kick over the wall, but Sebastien Frey was almost shocked by a Reginaldo blockbuster from 25 metres.

Pavarini was keeping Parma in it and also fingertipped a Montolivo free kick over, but substitute Franco Semioli turned it around less than 15 minutes from time. Martin Jorgensen's looping cross from the right found Semioli for a perfectly-timed header.

Parma went down to 10 men following Rossi's foul on Pazzini, which was perhaps a little harsh for a straight red card. With the results as they were around the peninsula, the Gialloblu would be relegated, so continued to push forward and Coly drilled over.

However, it left room at the back and Osvaldo put it beyond doubt five minutes from time. The Under-21 international got away from his marker for a stunning volley on Jorgensen's long free kick, meeting it with the outside of his right foot at full stretch.

Fiorentina: Frey; Jorgensen, Gamberini, Ujfalusi, Gobbi; Kuzmanovic (Semioli 64), Liverani (Donadel 62), Montolivo (Potenza 79); Santana, Pazzini, Osvaldo

Parma: Pavarini; Coly, Falcone (Rossi 20), Paci, Castellini; Reginaldo, Morrone, Parravicini (Dessena 81), Mariga; Lucarelli, Budan (Gasbarroni 45)

Ref: Morganti

Sent off: Rossi 80 (P)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[skeeta]

If the Viola manage to beat Torino (who are now safe) next Sunday, they will be in the Champions League and Milan will not be.