BERNARDESCHI HITS BIRTHDAY THUNDERBOLT

BERNARDESCHI HITS BIRTHDAY THUNDERBOLT

Fiorentina will be expected to reach the last 16 after Federico Bernardeschi's long-range free-kick earned the Italians a 1-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

Bernardeschi gave his side an away goal to take into the return leg when he struck a contender for goal of the tournament from all of 30 yards after 43 minutes at Borussia Park on Thursday.

Roma, who beat Fiorentina 4-0 in Serie A earlier in the month, claimed a 4-0 win over Villarreal courtesy of a superbly struck first-half goal from Brazilian defender Emerson and Edin Dzeko's second-half hat-trick.

That scoreline was matched by Rostov, who raced into a 3-0 lead over Sparta Prague in the first half of their clash at Stadion Olimp-2, before Sardar Azmoun's second-half goal put the tie all but beyond doubt.

Fiorentina held off by Genoa 0-0

Published On: Sun, Sep 14th, 2014

Fiorentina / Genoa / News | By Joe Avicolli

Perin: Genoa secured major draw over Fiorentina

Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin believes the Rossoblu’s goalless draw with Fiorentina on Sunday was a positive result for his team.

The 21-year-old put in a huge performance for the Grifone against the Viola in Florence and was able to keep the home side from scoring any goals with some important saves, though he feels all of coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s men played a good game and refuses to take full credit for the earned point.

Perin spoke to the press after the draw with Fiorentina about Genoa’s performance and his mission to continue improving with the club throughout the season.

“I was not the best on the field, the credit goes to the whole team,” said the Italian international. “We were good, we got a major draw after the undeserved defeat to Napoli.

“Perhaps the most difficult plays came from Alberto Aquilani, keeping everything low. We will improve, we are young and it takes patience.

“Even in our game against Napoli we were able to send an important signal.

“It’s true that I have gained the interest of several teams and left a couple of times, but this is my home. I still have much to learn as I continue to grow.

“Playing at the Stadio Franchi excites me? Even with Pescara two years ago I managed to do well here, but the stages that I had played on were different. It’s nice to have confidence in certain atmospheres.  “While training with Italy at Coverciano, training with Gianluigi Buffon had helped me. He taught me a lot, for me it’s always a pleasure to learn from him.”

Matias Fernandez saves Fiorentina, scores a draw with Parma 2-2

It was a night of dances as Cuadrado returns the favor
of a dancing Antonio Cassano

Skysports

Parma and Fiorentina shared four goals and three red cards in an action-packed 2-2 draw at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

After weathering an early storm, Parma took the lead through Antonio Cassano in the 39th minute, but Juan Cuadrado levelled almost immediately. Amauri put Parma in front once again before Viola defender Modibo Diakite was sent off.

Mati Fernandez levelled for the visitors five minutes from time before Gianni Munari and Borja Valero were dismissed in a tense finale. Fiorentina started brightly and pegged Parma back in their own half almost permanently through 30 minutes.

For all their excellent build-up play, they lacked a cutting edge with David Pizarro showing a particular reluctance to take a shot on goal, despite the ease with which he was able to waltz through the Parma defence. Alberto Aquilani was unable to get Alessandro Matri through on goal either as the Viola failed to turn their dominance into goals.

Parma punished them by taking the lead with only their second shot of the game, after Jonathan Biabany's curled effort missed the target, when Amauri cut into the area from the left and pulled the ball back to Cassano, who turned it home from eight yards out.

Their joy was short lived, though, with Fiorentina levelling within two minutes. Aquilani sent Matri down the left and his powerful cross was met beyond the near post by Cuadrado, who found the target despite the tight angle and speed of the delivery.

Parma regained the lead early in the second half when a foul by Pizarro gave them a penalty. Amauri stepped up to send Neto the wrong way, putting Parma in front for a second time.

It looked like they would keep their lead this time when Fiorentina were reduced to 10 men with Diakite picking up his second booking, but the visitors did not give up and Mario Gomez was sent on as Viola boss Vincenzo Montella gambled with an extra striker. Their pressure paid off with Fernandez curling a 25-yard free-kick beyond the reach of Antonio Mirante to bring Fiorentina level again five minutes from time.

Tempers flared going into stoppage time and the referee brandished his red card twice to send Munari and Valero off seconds before ordering the remaining 19 players down the tunnel with the final whistle.

Inter outlast listless Fiorentina 2-1

SB Nation.com

Napoli can extend their advantage over Fiorentina in the final Champions League spot to six points with a win over Sassuolo on Sunday, after the viola suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Inter Milan. It was a flat performance in which they never really looked at their sparkling best, with Mauro Icardi coming off the bench to punish them with a winning goal midway through the second half.

Despite Alessandro Matri's recent goals, Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella decided to bench the AC Milan loanee, leaving the viola without any nominal centre-forward. It was a selection which backfired in a disappointing first half for the hosts, in which centre-back Marvin Compper's low long range drive was the only test for Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanović.

It wasn't only up front that Fiorentina had problems, either. Their ambitious central midfield of playmakers Alberto Aquilani, Matías Fernándezand David Pizarro may have kept possession reasonably well, but also left them hugely exposed on the counter-attack. Time and again in the first half a pretty poor Inter team sliced the viola open on the break, squandering several good goalscoring opportunities before they finally broke the deadlock.

Ten minutes before halftime Fredy Guarín squeezed a through-ball in for his teammate Rodrigo Palacio, with the Fiorentina defending so lax the Argentine striker could take a heavy touch before prodding past the flapping Neto. It epitomised an extremely disappointing opening half for the hosts, and they were fortunate to only be one down at the break.

However, they bounced back in the second half in just about the best way possible; drawing level within a couple of minutes of the restart. Winger Juan Cuadrado nearly blew the roof off the net with a spectacular goal in the Coppa Italia last week, and so it's only fair his latest strike was rather less spectacular; squirming under an unimpressive Handanović from the edge of the box.

Unfortunately for Fiorentina, their joy was short-lived. Despite Inter looking less threatening than they did in the first half, they retook the lead 20 minutes into the second; Mauro Icardi sliding Yuto Nagatomo's cross beyond Neto for 2-1. Despite both Mario Gómez and Matri being thrown on, the viola couldn't muster a response; slumping to a disappointing defeat and giving Napoli the chance to extend their lead in the Champions League race.