Fiorentina pre-season 08/09

[D-Kin]

Pre-season training stars: July 7 in Florence

July 20 - Castelrotto (H)
July 22 - Politehnica Timisoara (A)
July 27 - Veneto Team (H)
July 28 - Larissa (H)

[dukeofdavinci]

Viola book Barça date Tuesday 8 July, 2008

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Fiorentina have lined up a prestigious pre-season friendly against Barcelona at the end of the month.

The Viola are looking forward to Champions League football this term after Coach Cesare Prandelli [pictured] led them to fourth-place last season.

And the Tuscans are planning to take on the 2005-06 Champions League winners at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on July 30.

The friendly will be a charity event with money donated to the Artemio Franchi Foundation, the FC Barcelona Fund and the Fiorentina Onlus Foundation – a newly established organisation that gives money to the city of Florence and its works.

The fans will be eager to see the Gigliati’s new signings, including former Milan hitman Alberto Gilardino, in the Viola shirt for the first time.

should be a good game, an early study each other whom both are in cl

[D-Kin]

A charity match?

Fair play.

[D-Kin]

Viola slaughter Sciliar Thursday 17 July, 2008

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The floodgates opened for Fiorentina in their first pre-season friendly against amateur side Sciliar.

The new-look Viola ran out 12-0 winners without having to break sweat against their humble opponents.

Giampaolo Pazzini was the star of the show with a hat-trick, but there were braces for Mario Santana, Manuel Da Costa and Franco Semioli.

Alberto Gilardino, who signed from Milan this summer, had a debut of ups and downs as he missed a penalty but did find the net in open play.

Azzurrini striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo also hit the target and another new signing Stevan Jovetic converted a spot-kick.

Fiorentina’s next test is against Castelrotto on July 20 before a bigger challenge against Romanian side Politehnica Timisoara.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Friendly: Verona match Viola Monday 21 July, 2008

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Fiorentina were held by Serie C side Verona in their second pre-season friendly of the summer with new boy Alberto Gilardino finding the net.

The Viola demolished a local amateur side in their first friendly last week but faced a stiffer test against fallen giants Verona – a side that Cesare Prandelli ruled between 1998 and 2000.

Gilardino made a lively start in Bolzano and nearly found the net after just 160 seconds when he was played in by Manuel Da Costa, but his effort was tipped wide by the goalkeeper.

Minutes later though, Gila did make it 1-0. The former Milan star’s delicate one-two with Azzurrini hitman Pablo Daniel Osvaldo sent him clear to poke home from close range, much to Prandelli’s delight.

Osvaldo nearly doubled the lead in spectacular fashion with an overhead kick that whistled over the bar,

The Viola made four changes at half-time and Giampaolo Pazzini nearly continued his impressive pre-season but his strike was stopped by ‘keeper Francesco Franzese after 48 minutes.

However, Verona fought their way back and striker Matteo Scarpini missed from just six yards as the Tuscans looked a little tired.

And the Mastini did equalise, courtesy of natural defender Alessandro Castellan.

Castellan came on for Antonio Bellavista and made his presence felt by scoring almost immediately when he pounced on some sloppy defending after 71 minutes,

Fiorentina: Avramov; Kroldrup, Dainelli (Mazuch 46), Da Costa, Pasqual; Santana (Semioli 56), Melo (Gobbi 46), Donadel; Osvaldo (Papa Waigo 56), Jovetic (Pazzini 46), Gilardino (Kuzmanovic 46)
Verona: Franzese (Cecchini 75); Campagna, Sibilano, Bergamelli (Conti 62), Moracci (Loseto 67); Garzon (Campisi 53), Bellavista (Castellan 67), Corrent (Parolo 53); Anaclerio (Vriz 62), Girardi (Scarprini 53), Tiboni (Dianda 62)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Friendly: Mutu jumps for Fiorentina Saturday 26 July, 2008

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Adrian Mutu joined in anti-Roma chants with the fans as Fiorentina beat Figline in a friendly this evening.

The Romanian had been on the verge of joining the Giallorossi this week before the club put a stop to his £18m move.


There were fears of a split with the fans, but at half-time when they performed the classic chant ‘If you don’t jump, you’re a Giallorosso’, Mutu jumped along to cheers from the stands.


He started from the bench as the Viola defeated Serie C side Figline 1-0 thanks to a goal from Daniel Pablo Osvaldo.


The Italian Under-21 international got his head to a Franco Semioli cross from the right after 18 minutes.


After the break Alberto Gilardino went close a couple of times by combining with Mutu and Jovetic.


Summer signing Jovetic impressed behind the striker in a 4-3-2-1 formation, while Gilardino was offside as he went to tap in a parried Felipe Melo piledriver.


In another show of unity, Mutu wore the captain’s armband for the final 15 minutes. “That was not a signal to anyone,” assured Coach Cesare Prandelli.


“We worked hard on the flanks and that pleased me. We wanted to keep possession and did it better on some occasions than others.


“Papa Waigo told me he had a lot of fun playing as a full-back, so I tested him in that position again.”

Fiorentina first half: Storari; Zauri, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Semioli, Donadel, Gobbi; Santana, Pazzini, Osvaldo
Fiorentina second half: Frey; Zauri (Papa Waigo 59), Gamberini, Da Costa, Gobbi (Pasqual 65); Kuzmanovic, Melo, Donadel (Diakhitè’ 76); Jovetic, Mutu; Gilardino

oh what a ****, he and his boys scout club can go to hell and we are sure gonna beat the crap out of them in the league.

[dukeofdavinci]

Friendly: Viola taught Barca lesson Wednesday 30 July, 2008

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Fiorentina lost 3-1 to Barcelona at the Stadio Franchi, but impressed with Giampaolo Pazzini, Stevan Jovetic and Ndiaye Papa Waigo.

The Viola prepared for the Champions League preliminary round with a prestigious friendly against the Spaniards at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Leo Messi sparked the first chance with a cheeky backheel for a Xavi strike tipped over the bar by Sebastien Frey. Soon after, Xavi thumped the frame of the goal with a left-foot effort from the D.

Frey was at full stretch for a low one-handed save on Messi when clear on goal, but he could do nothing on the opening goal after 29 minutes. A Messi cross found Pique' at the back post to cushion it back for Carles Puyol's tap-in from a yard.

Alberto Gilardino was halted for a very tight offside decision as he ran on to Marco Donadel's pass and had a goal disallowed by the flag, but another fine Frey save was required on Keita's header from a corner kick.

Andres Iniesta went off with a muscular problem and Gilardino was furious when his penalty appeals for a Pique push were waved away.

Barca substitute Jeffren made it 2-0 straight after the break. He took advantage of a lucky ricochet and placed a precise angled drive into the far bottom corner.

Another good Gilardino opportunity was halted for a millimetrical offside position and Valdes did well to smother Gilardino's knockdown at Adrian Mutu's feet.

Prandelli threw on five new players - Stevan Jovetic, Ndiaye Papa Waigo, Daniel Osvaldo, Giampaolo Pazzini and Massimo Gobbi. Papa Waigo was again fielded in a new right-back role, but there were concerns when it emerged Donadel had gone off due to a muscular problem.

Messi went on a blazing solo run that skimmed the woodwork and Inter transfer target Da Costa replaced Alessandro Gamberini. In a charming moment, Messi earned a standing ovation from the entire Stadio Franchi when he made way for Alexandr Hleb and thanked the Italian fans.

Fiorentina got themselves back into the game on 69 minutes, as Osvaldo did brilliantly to draw the central defenders and instead thread a disguised pass to Pazzini for a cool finish under the goalkeeper's body.

It didn't last long, though, as teenage talent Bojan left Da Costa for dead with his second touch and placed a perfect angled drive in off the inside of the far post. By this stage, Marco Storari was in goal for Frey.

Papa Waigo impressed in his defensive role with a well-timed challenge to dispossess Bojan. Montenegrin youngster Jovetic also impressed the crowd with his cheeky flicks and an Osvaldo overhead kick earned applause.

In stoppages Pazzini's chest and second touch left Pique stranded, but Osvaldo's shot was charged down.

Fiorentina 1-3 Barcelona
Scorers: Puyol 29 (B), Jeffren 48 (B), Gilardino 69 (F), Bojan 72 (B)
Fiorentina: Frey (Storari 71), Zauri (Papa Waigo 56), Gamberini (Da Costa 67), Kroldrup, Pasqual (Gobbi 56), Kuzmanovic, Felipe, Donadel (Osvaldo 56), Santana, Gilardino (Pazzini 56), Mutu (Jovetic 56)
Barcelona: Valdés, Alves (Victor Sanchez 78), Puyol (Caceres 46), Piqué, Abidal (Sylvinho 46), Xavi (Sergio 46), Keita (Vazquez 63), Yaya Touré (Gudjohnsen 63), Iniesta (Jeffren 35) (Crosas 78), Pedro (Bojan 46), Messi (Hleb 69)
Ref: Saccani

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Prandelli: We must do better Thursday 31 July, 2008

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Fiorentina boss Cesare Prandelli was frustrated after last night’s defeat against Barcelona. "There's lots of work to do."

The Tuscans generally played well in last night’s Franchi Memorial, but Barça ran out 3-1 winners.

And despite encouraging performances from the likes of Papa Waigo, Stevan Jovetic and Giampaolo Pazzini, Prandelli wasn’t happy with what he saw.

“In the first half we were too compact and that’s how you lose games in the end,” the gifted tactician lamented on Sky Sport Italia.

“After the break we played better because we pushed higher up the pitch and were able to attack.

“But we need to grow and to do a lot of work. These games against big teams allow you to learn a lot.”

One of the stars of the evening was Barça hitman Lionel Messi, who received a warm ovation from the Fiorentina fans as he left the pitch.

“He is a great player on the ball, but he is also very good off the ball,” Prandelli insisted.

“Lionel is always pressing the opponents and willingly goes to try and win it back.”

Prandelli concluded with some words about star striker Adrian Mutu whose future now definitely lies with the Viola.

“I thought he played well,” he said. “He is a bit behind in terms of preparation because he only got back after the European Championship, but he is making up for lost time.

“Who played the best for us? I’d have to say Mario Santana.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[skeeta]

Fiorentina got thumped by an "out of this world" Barcelona last night, but got very good performances from Melo and Jovetic and a better than average one from Gilardino. Mutu and Koldrup, on the other hand, were pants. Prandelli held up his hands and said "my teams are always ugly this early in the pre-season".

[dukeofdavinci]

Friendlies: Viola pass Romanian test Wednesday 6 August, 2008

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Fiorentina defeated Romanians Progresul 3-1, while Bologna beat the Japanese Under-21 side and Atalanta were in action.

The Viola prepared for the Champions League preliminary round against Slavia Prague by seeing off Progresul in Viareggio this evening.

Zdravko Kuzmanovic opened the scoring just three minutes in from Alberto Gilardino's assist, although Costescu equalised soon after by taking advantage of Per Kroldrup's error in the offside trap.

A save denied Felipe Melo and Gilardino thumped the crossbar, while Mario Alberto Santana had a goal disallowed for an offside position.

Gilardino finally restored Fiorentina's advantage by nodding in second half substitute Marco Donadel's cross, then Giampaolo Pazzini sealed the scoreline with a delicate chip set up by Massimo Gobbi.

In other friendly news, Bologna got the better of the Japanese Under-21 side in Sestola. Coda was the star of the show with a brace, smashing a fierce strike from distance under the bar and then turning in a spectacular scissor-kick. Mishima got the only Japanese goal with a header.

Atalanta beat Pergocrema 3-1 in Rovetta this evening, but had gone behind to Gentili's goal. The Orobici required an own goal to equalise, then turned it around through Gyorgy Garics and Diego De Ascentis.

Fiorentina: Frey; Zauri (Da Costa 58), Gamberini, Kroldrup, Vargas (Pasqual 63); Felipe Melo, Kuzmanovic (Gobbi 63), Santana (Papa Waigo 71); Jovetic (Donadel 46), Gilardino (Pazzini 65), Mutu (Osvaldo 63)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Friendly: Pazzini's Dutch delight
Friday 22 August, 2008
Giampaolo Pazzini bagged an inspirational brace as Fiorentina earned a morale-boosting 2-0 victory away to AZ Alkmaar.

The Viola continued their preparations for the second leg of the Champions League preliminary round with Slavia Prague with this friendly in Holland.

As Adrian Mutu is out with an elbow injury and the internationals resting, Pazzini partnered Franco Semioli and Daniel Pablo Osvaldo upfront.

It proved a winning formula, as Semioli nodded an Osvaldo cross over before Pazzini combined with the former Chievo star to net the opener 23 minutes in.

Sebastien Frey was called to save an Ari da Silva strike with an outstretched foot, while Zeuuw also threatened.

Pazzini sealed the 2-0 scoreline in the closing stages with a spectacular volley after exchanging passes with Mario Alberto Santana.

Substitute Stevan Jovetic went very close to a third when pouncing on Donk’s misplaced pass as the Viola picked up a well-earned victory.

“It was a good performance and we knew their ability to hold the ball would be dangerous,” said Cesare Prandelli.

“We did good things tonight and it is important to test yourself on the international stage. Osvaldo worked hard for the team and played very well, while Pazzini is in great shape and I’m happy to be faced with tough choices every week.”

AZ Alkmaar 0-2 Fiorentina
Scorer: Pazzini 23, 86 (F)
AZ Alkmaar: Didulica, Herr, Mendes Da Silva, Schaars, Ari Da Silva Ferreira, Donk, Poulsen, Zeeuw (Van der Velden 62), Hamadoui, Moisander, Holman (Vejnovic 77)
Fiorentina: Frey; Zauri, Kroldrup, Dainelli (Da Costa 60), Vargas (Pasqual 60); Kuzmanovic, Melo (Donadel 63), Almiron (Gobbi 60); Semioli (Jovetic 70), Pazzini, Osvaldo (Santana 60)

channel4.com - Football Italia