ACF Fiorentina may have extended their run of good form with victories over Atalanta and Torino, but the final five games of the 2012–2013 Serie A season will be decisive, determining whether Fiorentina achieve their goal of qualification for European football. Qualification into the Champions League or Europa Cup will not only be a vindication of the club’s status on an international scale, but will also provide a welcome economic windfall. The recent results and confident style of play provide good grounds for optimism.
Atalanta 0 – 2 Fiorentina. The home team started strongly but faded after the break, when Alberto Aquilani pushed further upfield. Vincenzo Montella’s tactical manoeuvres proved decisive in upsetting the deadlock of the game; David Pizarro finally put Fiorentina ahead after 60 minutes through a well-placed penalty. Marcelo Larrondo doubled the Viola’s lead 10 minutes later with a fine strike, which settled the outcome of the match.
Fiorentina 4 – 3 Torino. Florence’s Franchi stadium was the sight of a seven-goal thriller that saw the Viola move closer to achieving Champions League qualification. Fiorentina dominated play in the first half of the game, going 3-0 up through goals by Guillermo Cuadrado, Alberto Aquilani and Adem Ljajić. Torino, however, staged an improbable comeback with goals from Paolo Barreto, Mario Santana and Alessio Cerci to level the game. In a final twist, however, Viola midfielder Rômulo scored the winner in the 86th minute.
Next up. Fiorentina play away at Sampdoria on April 28 at 3pm; host AS Roma at 8:45pm on May 4; and then play Siena away in a midweek fixture on May 8, at 3pm.
