Football on the wider European stage beckons for ACF
Fiorentina, who have made it five wins from five, and now sit third in Serie A.
The Viola have lost striker Stevan Jovetic to a soleus muscle tear over the
last fortnight, but midfielder Alberto Aquilani has returned from a long-term
injury to re-establish his reputation as a reliable goalscorer.
AC Milan 1-3
Fiorentina. While a trip to the San Siro Stadium is never a small obstacle,
Fiorentina certainly went, saw and conquered. It may have been the first time
that both Riccardo Montolivo and Alberto Aquilani faced their former employers,
but it was the Viola player who got one back on his old club. Only 10 minutes
after kick-off, Aquilani burst into the box to put away a loose ball. Borja
Valero then doubled the lead after 38 minutes with some nifty footwork. The
Rossoneri were booed off at half-time, but rallied after the break, halving the
difference through a goal by Giampaolo Pazzini. Dutch-Moroccan striker El
Hamdaoui, however, settled the game a few minutes from full time with a superb
long-range effort that will surely contend for goal of the season.
Fiorentina 4-1
Atalanta. The Viola brushed aside a ten-man Atalanta in a one-sided
encounter at Florence’s Artemio Franchi stadium. Centre-back Gonzalo Rodríguez
scored his third goal this season through a set-piece after 5 minutes, but Atalanta’s
Giacomo Buonaventura cancelled out the Viola’s advantage with a goal after 38
minutes. Italian international Alberto Aquilani then scored twice in five
minutes before half-time to essentially settle the game. The second half was
always under Fiorentina’s control, with Borja Valero and Alberto Aquilani once
again dictating play. Veteran striker Luca Toni added gloss to the scoreline by
heading home in extra-time, and the game ended 4-1. After a fine run of form, Fiorentina
moved level on points with Napoli.
Fiorentina play away to Torino on November 25 at 3pm, then
at home to Sampdoria on December 2 at 8:45pm, followed by a match away to AS
Roma on December 8 at 8:45pm.
