The 1000th Serie A Victory!!

After the 999th win against Udinese last week, Fiorentina came to Tuscan Rival Hellas Verona hoping to avoid the distraction of former player Luca Tonia and his 16 league goals this season and keep getting wins under their belts going down the stretch.

Coach Vincenzo Montella had some added advantages as he got starter Stefan Savic back from suspension and had a full week to work on a game plan, not to mention get his players a bit fitter.

The team really looked like the full week of work had made a difference as they passed the ball seemingly at will while in the Verona end of the field, unfortunately, Verona was able to counterand the teams romped up and down the pitch for the first 14 minutes before Verona capitalized, taking a 1-0 lead on a rebound.

Toni took the ball into the corner of the box nd served it out to Juan Iturbe, who shot on net. Fiorentina goalie Norberto Neto saved the shot, but deflected it right to Jacopo Sala who headed it in fairly easily.

Fiorentina seemed to take the mishap in stride and continued to press, and it paid off as ust after the half hour mark, Borja Valero and Juan Cuadrado worked a beautiful give and go that left Cuadrado wide open on the Verona goalie Rafael and he blasted the equalizer right by.

Shortly before halftime, Manuel Pasqual crossed a ball through a congested box that found Albert Aquilani alone and open and he put it in for the lead that Fiorentina would never relinquish.

The Viola didn't let halftime slow them down and continued to press and at the hour mark, Aquilani headed a ball that deflected over to a wide open Valero who tapped it in for the fourth goal

Shortly after that goal former Viola Marco Donadel took down Cuadrado from behind on a break away and was shown his walking papers with a straight red card.

Verona didn't hang their head and countered more and more effectively until Juan Iturbe drew a foul from David Pizarro in the box and Toni converted the penalty, making it 3-2 and a little scary for Fiorentina fans.

Goals from Matri and another from Aquilani would see out the rivals and Fiorentina would keep pace with third place Napoli and fifth place Inter, both of who won this weekend.

Fiorentina go back to Florence next week for a visit from high flying second place AS Roma.

Roster

Did not have a good view of the match today, so I'm not going to rate the players. Please add your ratings below, if you choose.

Neto

Tomovic
Rodriguez
Savic
Pasqual

Aquilani
Pizarro
Valero

Cuadrado
Ilicic
Matos


Subs


Montella(7) - Maybe the best passing game all year, if not then at least  up to the level of passing prior to the Rossi injury. Might just be having the full week to prepare, might be fitness levels coming back, whatever it is, it suited Fiorentina, at least from an offensive side of things. Defensively, Fiorentina struggled a bit, but this foursome hasn't played together for a while, so let's put it down to rust.

Quotes

Montella:
"This is one of our best performances since I arrived at Fiorentina and I enjoy it when the team plays with such quality"

"Alberto Aquilani had a nearly perfect performance, as he defended, he tied the play together and scored goals too."

"I was a bit upset at conceding the late goal, but once I got into the tunnel I realised it was a good performance overall."

"If we were voting right now, I’d give the Coach of the Year award to Garcia, because it’s very hard to work in an environment like Roma."

Hi Lights

Serie A Goals

(* indicates a goal in this match)

Rossi (14)
Cuadrado (7) *
Aquilani (6)  **
Valero (6) *
Matri (4) *
Vargas (4)                      
Fernandez (3) 
Gomez (3)
Rodriguez (3)
Ilicic (2) 
Joaquin (2)
Pizarro (1)                
Wolski (1)

Yellow Card Accumulation

(Disqualification of one game after the 4th, 8th, 12th, 15th and the 17th yellow card. Past 17, every yellow card is equivalent to a one-match ban. (Players receiving yellow cards in this match have an *, red cards #)

Rodriguez (12)
Ambrosini (7)  -  misses match on next yellow
Aquilani (7) -  misses match on next yellow
Cuadrado (6)
Savic (5) * 
Pizarro (5) *
Tomovic(4) 
Valero (4) 
Compper(3)  - misses match on next yellow 
Matos(3) -  misses match on next yellow                                             
Matri (3) -  misses match on next yellow
Neto (3) * - misses match on next yellow  
Pasqual (3)    - misses match on next yellow  
Diakite (2) 
Roncaglia (2)
Wolski (2)
Fernandez (1)
Gomez (1) 
Ilicic (1)
Rebic (1)
Rossi (1)

Looking Ahead

Big match against AS Roma, who are coming off a 3-1 home win against Atalanta, their 7th straight win in Serie A since losing in the second week of March at Napoli.

It is at home and Fiorentina have nearly a full week to prepare. It's on Saturday, as are all Serie A matches that week (Easter?) and should be on tv as it's the lone late match.

No suspensions for the match, but 7 people on a warning for the next.

Sat Apr 19 9:00 ET Fiorentina v AS Roma
Sun Apr 27 9:00 ET Bologna v Fiorentina
Sat May 3 2:45 ET Fiorentina v Napoli  - Coppa Italia (Final)
Tue May 6 1:00 ET Fiorentina v Sassuolo
Sun May 11 9:00 ET Livorno v Fiorentina
Sun May 18 9:00 ET Fiorentina v Torino
End Of Season

Goal Differential: 19 Tie Breakers:
Goal Differential with Napoli. (1-2, 1-0)
Lost against Inter, points (0-6)
Goal Differential with Parma, (2-2, 2-2)
Tied with Torino after 0-0 tie at Torino, 5/18 @Fiorentina
Goal Differential with AC Milan, (2-2, 2-2)
Lost against Lazio, points (1-4)
Won against Atalanta, points (6-0)

Top Table

(* - pending results)

Juventus have clinched at least 2nd place. With 5 matches left, they are more than 15 pts ahead of Napoli. Roma can finish no worse than third.

Juventus 84 *
Roma 79
Napoli 67
Fiorentina 58
Inter 53
Parma 51
Torino 48
Milan 48
Lazio 48
Atalanta 46   
Hellas Verona 46
Sampdoria 41

Juve
Mon Apr 14 1:00 ET Udinese v Juventus
Sat Apr 19 12:30 ET Juventus v Bologna
Sun Apr 27 9:00 ET Sassuolo v Juventus
Sun May 4 9:00 ET Juventus v Atalanta
Sun May 11 9:00 ET AS Roma v Juventus
Sun May 18 9:00 ET Juventus v Cagliari

Goal Differential: 47 TB:
Lead Roma after 3-0 win at home, 5/9 @AS Roma

Roma
Sat Apr 19 3:00 ET Fiorentina v AS Roma
Sun Apr 27 9:00 ET AS Roma v AC Milan
Sun May 4 9:00 ET Catania v AS Roma
Sun May 11 9:00 ET AS Roma v Juventus
Sun May 18 9:00 ET Genoa v AS Roma

Goal Differential: 49 TB:
Trail Juve after 3-0 loss at juve, 5/9 @AS Roma
Won against Napoli, aggregate (2-1)

Napoli
Sat Apr 19 9:00 ET Udinese v Napoli
Sun Apr 27 9:00 ET Internazionale v Napoli
Sat May 3 2:45 ET Fiorentina v Napoli     Coppa Italia Final - Stadio Olimpico
Wed May 6 9:00 ET Napoli v Cagliari
Sun May 11 9:00 ET Sampdoria v Napoli
Sun May 18 9:00 ET Napoli v Hellas Verona

Goal Differential: 28 TB:
Won against AS Roma, aggregate (1-2)
Goal Differential with Fiorentina. (2-1, 0-1)
Lead Inter with 4-2 win at home, 4/26 @Inter

Inter
Sat Apr 19 9:00 ET Parma v Internazionale
Sun Apr 27 9:00 ET Internazionale v Napoli
Sun May 4 9:00 ET AC Milan  v Internazionale
Sun May 11 9:00 ET Internazionale v Lazio
Sun May 18 9:00 ET Chievo Verona v Internazionale

Goal Differential: 20 TB:
Trail Napoli with 4-2 loss at Napoli 4/26 @Inter
Won against Fiorentina, points (6-0)
Tied with Parma after 3-3 tie at home, 4/19 @Parma
Won against Torino, points (4-1)
Leads Milan after 1-0 win at home, 5/4 @Milan
Trail Lazio with 1-0 loss at Lazio, 5/10 @Inter
Lost to Atalanta, points (1-4)

Parma
Sat Apr 19 9:00 ET Parma v Internazionale
Sun Apr 27 9:00 ET Cagliari v Parma
Sun May 4 9:00 ET Parma v Sampdoria
Sun May 11 9:00 ET Torino v Parma
Sun May 18 9:00 ET Parma v Livorno

Goal Differential: 11 TB:
Goal Differential with Fiorentina, (2-2, 2-2)
Tied with Inter after 3-3 tie at home, 4/19 @Parma
Lead Torino with 3-1 win at home, 5/11 @Torino
Won against Milan, points (6-0)
Lost against Lazio, points (1-4)
Won against Atalanta, points (6-0)

Torino
Sat Apr 19 9:00 ET Lazio v Torino
Sun Apr 27 9:00 ET Torino v Udinese
Sun May 4 9:00 ET Chievo Verona v Torino
Sun May 11 9:00 ET Torino v Parma
Sun May 18 2:45 ET Fiorentina v Torino

Goal Differential: 7 TB:
Tied with Fiorentina after 0-0 tie at home, 5/18 @Fiorentina
Lost against Inter, points (1-4)
Trail Parma with 1-3 loss win at Parma, 5/11 @Torino
Lead Lazio with a 1-0 win at home, 4/19 @Lazio
Lost against Atalanta, aggregate (0-2, 1-0)

Milan
Sat Apr 19 9:00 ET AC Milan v Livorno
Fri Apr 25 2:45 ET AS Roma v AC Milan
Sun May 4 2:45 ET AC Milan v Internazionale
Sun May 11 6:30 ET Atalanta v AC Milan
Sun May 18 2:45 ET AC Milan v Sassuolo

Goal Differential: 6  TB:
Goal Differential with Fiorentina, (0-2, 2-0)
Trails Inter after 1-0 loss at Inter, 5/4 @Milan
Lost against Parma, points (0-6)
Goal Differential with Lazio, (1-1, 1-1)
Leads Atalanta after 3-0 win at home, 5/11 @Atalanta

Lazio
Sat Apr 19 9:00 ET Lazio v Torino
Sun Apr 27 9:00 ET Livorno v Lazio
Sun May 4 9:00 ET Lazio v Hellas Verona
Sun May 11 9:00 ET Internazionale v Lazio
Sun May 18 9:00 ET Lazio v Bologna

Goal Differential: 0 TB:
Won against Fiorentina, points (4-1)
Lead Inter with 1-0 win at home, 5/10 @Inter
Won against Parma, points (4-1)
Goal Differential with Milan, (1-1, 1-1)
Trail Torino with a 1-0 loss at Torino, 4/19 @Lazio
Lost against Atalanta, points (0-6)

Atalanta
Sat Apr 19 9:00 ET Atalanta v Hellas Verona
Sun Apr 27 9:00 ET Atalanta v Genoa
Sun May 4 9:00 ET Juventus v Atalanta
Sun May 11 9:00 ET Atalanta v AC Milan
Sun May 18 9:00 ET Catania v Atalanta

Goal Differential: -6 TB:
Lost against Fiorentina, points (0-6)
Won against Inter, points (4-1)
Lost against Parma, points (0-6)
Won against Torino, aggregate (2-0, 0-1)
Trails Milan after 3-0 loss at Milan, 5/11 @Atalanta
Won against Lazio, points (6-0)

Bottom Table

(* - pending results)

15  Cagliari 33
16  Chievo Verona 30
17  Bologna 28

18  Livorno 25
19  Sassuolo 25
20  Catania 20

Cagliari
Sat Apr 19 Genoa v Cagliari
Sun Apr 27 Cagliari v Parma
Tue May 6 Napoli v Cagliari
Sun May 11 Cagliari v Chievo
Sun May 18 Juventus v Cagliari

Goal Differential: -14 TB:
Won head to head against Catania
Goal Differential with Sassuolo. Even in head to head points and head to head goal differential.
Tied with Chievo 0-0 at Chievo, 5/11 @Cagliari
Lost head to head to Livorno, Bologna


Chievo Verona
Sat Apr 19 Chievo Verona v Sassuolo
Sun Apr 27 Sampdoria v Chievo Verona
Sun May 4 Chievo Verona v Torino
Sun May 11 Cagliari v Chievo Verona
Sun May 18 Chievo Verona v Internazionale

Goal Differential: -19 TB:
Won head to head against Bologna and Livorno
Lead Sassuolo after 1-0 win away, 4/19 @Chievo
Goal Differential with Catania. Even in head to head points and head to head goal differential.
Tied with Cagliari 0-0 at Chievo, 5/11 @Cagliari

Bologna
Sat Apr 19 Juventus v Bologna
Sat Apr 26 Bologna v Fiorentina
Sun May 4 Genoa v Bologna
Sun May 11 Bologna v Catania
Sun May 18 Lazio v Bologna

Goal Differential: -24 TB:
Won head to head against Cagliari
Trail Catania after 2-0 loss away, 5/19 @Bologna
Goal Differential with Livorno. Even in head to head points and head to head goal differential.
Lost head to head against Sassuolo and Chievo

Livorno
Sat Apr 19 AC Milan v Livorno
Sun Apr 27 Livorno v Lazio
Sun May 4 Udinese v Livorno
Sun May 11 Livorno v Fiorentina
Sun May 18 Parma v Livorno

Goal Differential: -28 TB:
Won head to head against Cagliari, Catania and Sassuolo
Goal Differential with Bologna. Even in head to head points and head to head goal differential.
Lost head to head against Chievo

Sassuolo
Sat Apr 19 Chievo Verona v Sassuolo
Mon Apr 28 Sassuolo v Juventus
Tue May 6 Fiorentina v Sassuolo
Sun May 11 Sassuolo v Genoa
Sun May 18 AC Milan v Sassuolo

Goal Differential: -30 TB:
Won head to head against Catania and Bologna
Goal Differential with Cagliari. Even in head to head points and head to head goal differential.
Trail Chievo after 1-0 loss at home, 4/19 @Chievo
Lost head to head to Livorno

Catania
Sat Apr 19 Catania v Sampdoria
Sun Apr 27 Hellas Verona v Catania
Sun May 4 Catania v AS Roma
Sun May 11 Bologna v Catania
Sun May 18 Catania v Atalanta

Goal Differential: -33 TB:
Lost Head to head to Sassuolo, Livorno and Cagliari
Lead Bologna after 2-0 win; @Bologna 5/19
Goal Differential with Chievo. Even in head to head points and head to head goal differential.