Viola Nation - Empoli Vs. Fiorentina 2016A Fiorentina blog for Viola fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50059/viola-fav.png2016-04-10T14:31:17+02:00http://www.violanation.com/rss/stream/111651152016-04-10T14:31:17+02:002016-04-10T14:31:17+02:00Empoli 2-0 Fiorentina: Recap and highlights
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<figcaption>Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<h3>Pre-match</h3>
<p>Both managers set out their expected lineups. <span>Milan Badelj</span> still isn't fully fit and started from the bench, while Nenad Tomović and Matías Fernández remain injured. Gonzalo Rodríguez, meanwhile, celebrates his 32nd birthday today with his 164th appearance for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.violanation.com/">Fiorentina</a>, while Matías Vecino made his first return to the club where he burst onto the scene last season.</p>
<h3>First half</h3>
<p>The visitors started energetically, pressing their hosts deep inside their own area and winning possession in some promising areas, although they didn't manage to create much. The match eventually settled into a familiar pattern: Fiorentina dominated possession, but only crafted a series of half-chances that they were unable to do anything with, although Josip Iličić curled one into the net while approximately eight yards offsides. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/empoli">Empoli</a>, for their part, seemed happy to sit deep and soak up pressure, rarely even threatening on the counter and happy to kick <span>Borja Valero</span> out of the game. The only twist was that the Viola were dominating the battle on the wings due to their numerical advantage out wide. Then, in the 41st minute, Manuel Pucciarelli picked up the ball on the edge of the box in miles of space, deked Gonzalo out of the frame, and coolly finished past Ciprian Tătăruşanu. </p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OMPaPITuEUc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><p>Iličić forced a good save from Alberto Pelagotti with a curler on the other end, but the half ended with Empoli leading 1-0.</p>
<h3>Second half</h3>
<p>The last forty-five started out much like the first, and with similar results. The only difference was Empoli looking more dangerous on the break, which was hardly a welcome development. <span>Paulo Sousa</span> brought on Mauro Zárate for <span>Federico Bernardeschi</span> before the hour mark, which was weird, considering the young winger had been one of the team's lone bright spots while Iličić, frankly, had been quite bad. Speaking of which, referee Antonio Damato brilliantly snuffed out a 4-on-3 break for the visitors by whistling a ghost foul on Borja Valero, whom replays showed never touched the man he slid at. Nikola Kalinić managed to poke home from a clearly offsides position (he maintained quite a dialogue with the linesman for the entire match) and won what certainly looked like a penalty at the edge of the box that went uncalled; Zárate had a couple of half-chances, albeit none that were certainties; Vecino tried a trademark blast that drifted into low earth orbit; and even Borja snapped one straight at Pelagotti. But Fiorentina never looked like scoring, and, to the surprise of nobody, conceded a second in stoppage time to Piotr Zieliński as they fruitlessly hurled numbers forward.</p>
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<h3>Post-match</h3>
<p>Uh, well, at least <span>Panagiotis Kone</span> made his Viola debut as an 82nd minute sub? It's hard to find bright spots on a team that hasn't won in 6 straight matches and has, barring something miraculous, played itself right out of a Champions League spot. Perhaps these are just the growing pains from Sousa's new style of play, but whatever the reason, something is deeply broken in this team.</p>
https://www.violanation.com/2016/4/10/11401048/empoli-2-0-fiorentina-recap-highlights-analysis-serie-a-final-score-tuscan-derbyThe Tito2016-04-10T11:48:44+02:002016-04-10T11:48:44+02:00Empoli Vs. Fiorentina: Lineups
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<figcaption>Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Fiorentina go all out in attack against their Tuscan neighbours</p> <p><a href="https://www.violanation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Fiorentina</a> Coach Paulo Sousa has deployed four players in attack as he looks to correct a four game winless streak for his team. They face an <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/empoli" class="sbn-auto-link">Empoli</a> side who are without a win since January 10th but their Tuscan neighbours will be buoyed by last week's good performance against <a href="https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Juventus</a> and the memory of their 2-2 draw in Florence back in November. Viola captain Gonzalo Rodriguez celebrates his 32nd birthday today - can he finish the day with a win?</p>
<h4><b>Lineups</b></h4>
<p><b>Empoli</b>: (4-3-1-2): Pelagotti; Laurini, Tonelli, Cosic, Mario Rui; Zielinski, Paredes. Croce; Saponara; Maccarone, Pucciarelli.</p>
<p><b>Fiorentina</b>: (4-2-3-1) Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Gonzalo, Astori, Alonso; Vecino, <span>Borja Valero</span>; Tello, Bernardeschi, Ilicic; Kalinic</p>
<h5>Watch It</h5>
<p><b>TV</b>: BT Sport 1 will broadcast the game in the UK, for viewing options where you are, click <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1665617/empoli-vs-fiorentina/">here</a></p>
<p><b>Online</b>: Online viewing options are limited, click <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1665617/empoli-vs-fiorentina/">here </a>for details</p>
<p>As always, you can also follow along with us live on <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://twitter.com/Viola_Nation" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. If you haven't already, <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/account/setup?community_id=403">join the community on Viola Nation</a>, and tell us what you think in the discussion below.</p>
https://www.violanation.com/2016/4/10/11376878/empoli-vs-fiorentina-2016-lineups-match-discussion-and-how-to-watchChloe_Beresford2016-04-08T15:05:02+02:002016-04-08T15:05:02+02:00Empoli Vs. Fiorentina: Preview
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<figcaption>Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Paulo Sousa looks to end the winless streak in a tough derby fixture against Empoli</p> <p>This Sunday's early kick off in Serie A will see <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.violanation.com/">Fiorentina</a> travel the short distance to take on their Tuscan rivals <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/empoli">Empoli</a>. The away section will largely be empty however, as the Curva Fiesole issued a statement in dispute over the €30 price tag for a ticket. It looks likely that the Viola Ultras will travel to Empoli nonetheless and in a repeat of last year's protest, they will simply show their support outside the stadium.</p>
<h5>Empoli</h5>
<p>After a feisty performance that ultimately saw Mario Giampaolo's men succumb to a 1-0 defeat at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/">Juventus</a> Stadium last weekend, the Azzurri will be confident mood before <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/kentucky-derby">the derby</a>. The man who replaced <span>Maurizio Sarri</span> in the summer has improved his side despite losing key players such as <span>Mirko Valdifiori</span> and <span>Elseid Hysaj</span>, who followed their former Coach to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a>. A bright start to the season saw his side rise to the Europa League places by January, and results have fallen away of late, Empoli president Fabrizio Corsi believes Giampaolo can achieve more. "As well as being a great Coach, Marco is also a very calm person and capable of dealing with pressure", he told Radio Blu, "of which there is plenty in Florence."</p>
<div class="pullquote" align="right">Empoli vs. Fiorentina 10/04/16 12:30<span> CET,</span> <span>Stadio Carlo Castellani</span><span>, Empoli, Italy</span>
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<h5>Fiorentina</h5>
<p>Amidst increasing rumours over his future in Florence, <span>Paulo Sousa</span> will be seeking a win after a string of bad results has seen a third place league finish now seem all but impossible. After their disappointing home draw to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/sampdoria">Sampdoria</a>, the Portuguese Coach wants to return to the consistent performances from the start of the campaign."We took the lead," he told the press after the game, "but allowed them to equalise shortly before the break. We paid that on a mental level." After a 2-2 draw at the Franchi in November, there is no doubt that Empoli will give their Tuscan neighbours a stern test.</p>
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<h5>Projected Lineups</h5>
<p><b>Empoli</b>: [4-3-1-2] Skorupski; Laurini, Costa, Tonelli; Mario Rui, Zielinski, Paredes; Croce; Saponara, Pucciarelli, Maccarone</p>
<p><b>Fiorentina</b>: [3-4-2-1] Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori; Bernardeschi, Badelj, Vecino, Alonso; Ilicic, Valero; Kalinic</p>
<h5>Watch It</h5>
<p><b>TV</b>: BT Sport 1 will broadcast the game in the UK, for viewing options where you are, click <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1665617/empoli-vs-fiorentina/">here</a></p>
<p><b>Online</b>: Online viewing options are limited, click <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1665617/empoli-vs-fiorentina/">here </a>for details</p>
<p>As always, we'll have a match thread live here for discussion of the game at hand. You can also follow along with us live on <a href="https://twitter.com/Viola_Nation" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and we'll have updates of the most important events on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ViolaNationSBN" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</p>
https://www.violanation.com/2016/4/8/11376782/empoli-vs-fiorentina-preview-time-tv-schedule-and-how-to-watchChloe_Beresford