Vincenzo Montella has called on his team to show their guile and determination in the Coppa Italia semi-final return leg against Udinese, and book their place in the May final both for themselves and for the club’s owners.
Addressing reporters at a news conference ahead of tomorrow’s decisive meeting at the Stadio Franchi, the Viola coach began by discussing the fitness of his players going into the game: “Ambrosini hasn’t trained with the group yet but should do this afternoon. Aquilani and Gomez have been training for a few days. We’re optimistic about Gonzalo. This is why we organised the press conference before today’s training session! As always I’ll pick the team based on what I see on the training ground.”
How’s Matri doing? “Alessandro always toils very hard for the team but tomorrow a lot of it will come down to experience. We must show clear heads and character to overcome what is a testing encounter. Udinese have knocked out Inter and AC Milan. They know how to wait for you and can strike through players like Di Natale.”
What would the final mean? “For us it would be a prestigious achievement and for the ownership I think it would be reward for everything they’ve invested. It’s great to be able to play games like this.”
Andrea Della Valle? “He’s always by our side and fully involved in everything.”
Will you need passionate support from the stands tomorrow? “The crowd has always got behind us, even when we’ve struggled. I’m sure they’ll give us something extra tomorrow.”
Is Cuadrado hitting form again? “He was a real handful for Atalanta on Saturday.”
Wolski? “He proved his worth. He’s sure to get more chances.”
A recent report has revealed that the rapidly rising number of fans using Fiorentina’s official social networking sites has pushed the club up into sixth place in the overall rankings for Italian football clubs.
The article on Calciomercato.it explains: “…Fiorentina has been the big surprise in recent months and sits in sixth place both on ‘FB’ and Twitter behind the so-called ‘big clubs’ and ahead of Lazio.”
The website analysed and compared figures relating to the 20 Serie A clubs’ official Facebook and Twitter accounts. AC Milan leads the way by quite some margin in this special league table.
Fiorentina’s Facebook page currently has 337,629 fans, a decent number in itself but even more impressive considering its expansion rate: only 10 months ago, back in April 2013, fiorentina official had less than 20,000 likes. In the last month alone, the number has rocketed by 40% – a bigger percentage than for any other Serie A club.
Numbers alone only tell half the story of course. Our Facebook page has also seen a high level of interaction from users commenting on our posts. Two of the most popular in February were the birthday wishes for Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Gomez’s return to training with the team, both of which were shared and posted by the players themselves on their own profiles, thus increasing interaction with fans from Germany and the States.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina’s Twitter account now has 93,200 followers. Here too there has been a rapid increase over the last few months, making our official account the sixth most popular among football clubs in Italy.
We’re proud of the results we’ve managed to achieve as they show the fans appreciate what we’re doing on Fiorentina’s social networking sites.
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Fiorentina, 4th position with 41 points and a positive goal difference of +16
Atalanta, 12th position with 27 points and a negative goal
Fiorentina keeping up the race for the third position by defeating Atalanta at the Artemio Franchi Stadium. Nothing to do for Atalanta, but to surrender to the goals by midfielder Josip Ilicic and Rafal Wolski.
It is Fiorentina to open the score in the 16th minute with Josip Ilicic defeating Atalanta goalkeeper Andrea Consigli with a left footed shot from a free kick in the top right corner.
Match “secured” for Fiorentina in the 86th minute. An assist by midfielder Matias Fernandez to midfielder Rafal Wolski defeating goalkeeper Consigli with a left footed shot in the bottom left corner. Interesting, great move by coach Vincenzo Montella because he had replaced Josip Ilicic in the 60th minute precisely with Wolski.
Here is FIORENTINA official starting lineup by coach Vincenzo Montella:
Click the video to watch the highlights of the game, Fiorentina vs Atalanta, Saturday 8 February 2014, Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence, Italy, Serie A
Week 23
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Fiorentina, 4th position with 41 points and a positive goal difference of +16
Atalanta, 12th position with 27 points and a negative goal
Here are FIORENTINA official called up players by coach Vincenzo Montella for the game, Fiorentina vs Atalanta on Saturday 8 February 2014 at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy for the Serie A Week 23.
Hello my friends. Here is the Serie A PREVIEW for
the
Serie A Week 23, 2013 – 2014 Season on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 February
2014, matchday 23. It’s an exciting round as we expect to see a great Derby della Capitale, Lazio vs AS Roma! More than winning the bragging rights to rule the City of Rome, the Roman gladiators look to win this game to keep alive the race for the Scudetto with Juventus.
Juventus
have a 9-point gap ahead of AS Roma considering that Roma have a pending game after the match with Parma was postponed for heavy rain last week. Fact is that the leadership this week will not change. Juventus are inspired after crushing Inter and winning the Derby d’Italia.
Another exciting match this week is Napoli vs AC Milan. Napoli are in desperate need to start winning or risk losing the third position. Yet, AC Milan also in desperate need to win to climb the table. A defeat for Milan will be a blow, but also a major blow for Napoli in case of losing at the San Paolo Stadium. The third position battle this week is between Napoli and Fiorentina. Napoli might keep the third place in case of defeating Milan or getting a draw.
One thing that “might change” this week is the last position of the Serie A Table. Catania still in the rocking bottom. Catania having 15 points and even if it is going against all odds at the Ennio Tardini Stadium, Catania might grab a victory.
Here is the situation. Juventus in the 1st position with 59 points and a
positive goal difference of +38. AS Roma in the 2nd position with 50
points and a positive goal difference of +34. Napoli in the 3rd
position with 44 points and a positive goal difference of +18 The Europa League zone. Fiorentina
in the 4th position with 41 points and a positive goal difference of
+16. Hellas Verona in the 5th position with 35 points and a positive
goal difference of +2
Relegation Zone: Livorno in the 18th position with 17
points and a negative goal difference of -18. Sassuolo in the 19th
position with 17 points and a negative goal difference of -25. Catania
in the 20th position with 15 points and a negative goal difference of
-24.
Up to Round 22, Week 22 most scored goals in favor: Juventus with 54 goals
Up to Round 22, Week 22 most scored against: Sassuolo conceding 48 goals Top scorer up to Round 22: Fiorentina forward Giuseppe Rossi with 14 goals
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Fiorentina, 4th position with 41 points and a positive goal difference of +16
Atalanta, 12th position with 27 points and a negative goal
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Udinese, 15th position with 23 points and a negative goal difference of -10
Chievo Verona, 16th position with 18 points and a negative goal difference of -13
Disciplinary Situation: 2 suspended players for UDINESE: Pinzi (1) , Allan (1)
2 suspended players for CHIEVO VERONA: Frey (1), Radovanovic (1)
Stats BEFORE the game. Top scorer for UDINESE: Forward Antonio Di Natale with 5 goals
Top scorer for CHIEVO VERONA: Forward Alberto Paloschi with 5 goals
Here is the probable formation for UDINESE 3-5-1-1: SCUFFET 22,
HEURTAUX 75,
DANILO 5,
DOMIZZI 11,
BASTA 8,
PEREYRA 37,
BADU 7,
LAZZARI 21,
GABRIEL SILVA 34,
MAICOSUEL 70,
DI NATALE
Here is the probable formation for CHIEVO VERONA 3-5-2: PUGGIONI 1.
CANINI 5.
DAINELLI 3,
CESAR 12,
SARDO 17,
BENTIVOGLIO 9,
L. RIGONI 27,
HETEMAJ 56,
DRAMÉ 93,
PALOSCHI 43,
THEREAU
NAPOLI – AC MILAN
Referee: MASSA
Assistants: MELI – MANGANELLI
Fourth Official: VUOTO
ADD1: DAMATO
ADD2: CELI
20:45
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Napoli, 3rd position with 44 points and a positive goal difference of +18
AC Milan, 10th position with 29 points and a positive goal difference of +3
Disciplinary Situation: No suspended player for NAPOLI
1 suspended player for AC MILAN: Daniele Bonera
Stats are even for Napoli and AC Milan for games in Naples (three neutral places) with a total of 75 games:
27 wins Napoli
21 draws
27 wins AC Milan
84 goals Napoli
90 goals AC Milan
Last victory of Napoli at the San Paolo against Milan on 18 September 2011 with a 3-1.
The last draw on November 7, 2012 ending with a 2-2.
Last time AC Milan defeated Napoli at the San Paolo was on October 25, 2010 with a 1-2 result.
Stats BEFORE the game. Top scorer for NAPOLI: Forward Gonzalo Higuain with 10 goals
Top scorer for AC MILAN: Forward Mario Balotelli with 9 goals
Here is the probable formation for NAPOLI 4-2-3-1: REINA 25,
MAGGIO 11,
FERNANDEZ 21,
ALBIOL 33,
GHOULAM 31,
INLER 88,
JORGINHO 8,
CALLEJON 7,
HAMSIK 17,
MERTENS 14,
HIGUAIN 9
Here is the probable formation for AC MILAN 4-2-3-1: Abbiati 32,
DE SCIGLIO 2,
RAMI 13,
MEXES 5,
EMANUELSON 28,
MONTOLIVO 18,
DE JONG 34,
HONDA 10,
ROBINHO 7,
TAARABT 23,
BALOTELLI 45
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Torino, 7th position with 33 points and a positive goal difference of +7
Bologna, 17th position with 18 points and a negative goal difference of -18
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Hellas Verona, 5th position with 35 points and a positive goal difference of +2
Juventus, 1st position with 59 points and a positive goal difference of +38
On Week 4 game ending: Juventus 2 – 1 Hellas Verona
Disciplinary Situation: No suspended players
Stats BEFORE the game. Top scorer for HELLAS VERONA: Forward Luca Toni with 10 goals
Top scorer for JUVENTUS: Forward Carlos Tevez and midfielder Arturo Vidal with 11 goals each
Here is the probable formation for HELLAS VERONA 4-3-3: RAFAEL 1,
CACCIATORE 29,
MORAS 18,
MARQUES 25,
AGOSTINI 33,
ROMULO 2,
CIRIGLIANO 14,
HALLFREDSSON 10,
ITURBE 15,
TONI 9,
GOMEZ 21
Here is the probable formation for JUVENTUS 3-5-2: Buffon,
CACERES 4,
BONUCCI 19,
CHIELLINI 3
LICHTSTEINER 26,
VIDAL 23,
PIRLO 21,
POGBA 6,
ASAMOAH 22,
TEVEZ 10,
LLORENTE 14
Hellas Verona coach Andrea Mandorlini looking to cause an upset at the Marc’Antonio Bentegodi Stadium to stop “giant” Juventus…..
LAZIO – AS ROMA
Referee: ORSATO
Assistants: DI LIBERATORE – CARIOLATO
Fourth Official: STEFANI
ADD1: ROCCHI
ADD2: MAZZOLENI
15:00
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Lazio, 9th position with 31 points and a “0” goal difference
AS Roma, 2nd position with 50 points and a positive goal difference of +34
Disciplinary Situation: 1 suspended player for LAZIO: Biglia
No suspended players for AS ROMA
Stats BEFORE the game. Top scorer for Antonio Candreva with 7 goals
Top scorer for Alessandro Florenzi, Kevin Strootman, Gervinho, Ljajic, and Medhi Benatia with 5 goals each
Here is the probable formation for LAZIO 3-4-3: MARCHETTI 22,
BIAVA 20,
DIAS 3,
RADU 26,
CAVANDA 39,
LEDESMA 24,
ONAZI 23,
LULIC 19,
CANDREVA 87,
KLOSE 11,
KEITA 14
Here is the probable formation for AS ROMA 4-3-3: De Sanctis 26,
MAICON 13,
BENATIA 17,
CASTAN 5,
TOROSIDIS 35,
PJANIC 15,
DE ROSSI 16,
STROOTMAN 6,
FLORENZI 24,
TOTTI 10,
GERVINHO 27
Photo asroma.it
LIVORNO – GENOA
Referee: GERVASONI
Assistants: LONGO – BARBIRATI
Fourth Official: PASSERI
ADD1: DI BELLO
ADD2: MARESCA
15:00
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Livorno, 18th position with 17 points and a negative goal difference of -18
Genoa, 11th position with 27 points and a negative goal difference of -5
Here is the probable formation for LIVORNO 3-5-2: BARDI 1,
CECCHERINI 17,
EMERSON 23,
CODA 85,
PICCINI 2,
BENASSI 24,
LUCI 10,
GRECO 19,
MESBAH 11,
PAULINHO 9,
BELFODIL 21
Here is the probable formation for GENOA 3-4-3: PERIN 1,
BURDISSO 8,
PORTANOVA 90,
MARCHESE 15,
ANTONINI 3,
MATUZALEM 27,
BERTOLACCI 91,
DE CEGLIE 29,
KONATÈ 77,
GILARDINO 11,
ANTONELLI
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Parma, 8th position with 32 points and a positive goal difference of +5
Catania, 20th position with 15 points and a negative goal difference of -24
Here is the probable formation for PARMA 4-3-3: MIRANTE 83,
CASSANI 2,
PALETTA 29,
LUCARELLI 6,
GOBBI 18,
GARGANO 5,
MARCHIONNI 32,
PAROLO 16,
BIABIANY 7,
AMAURI 11,
CASSANO 99
Here is the probable formation for CATANIA 4-3-3: ANDUJAR 21,
PERUZZI 2,
BELLUSCI 14,
SPOLLI 3,
BIRAGHI 34,
IZCO 13,
LODI 10,
RINAUDO 15,
CASTRO 19,
BERGESSIO 9,
BARRIENTOS
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Sampdoria, 13th position with 25 points and a negative goal difference of -6
Cagliari, 14th position with 24 points and a negative goal difference of -10
Here is the probable formation for SAMPDORIA 4-2-3-1: DA COSTA 1,
DE SILVESTRI 29,
GASTALDELLO 28,
COSTA 3,
REGINI 19,
PALOMBO 17,
OBIANG 14,
GABBIADINI 11,
KRSTICIC 10,
SORIANO 21,
EDER 23
Here is the probable formation for CAGLIARI 4-3-1-2: AVRAMOV 25,
PERICO 24,
ROSSETTINI 15,
ASTORI 13,
MURRU 29,
EKDAL 20,
CONTI 5,
ERIKSSON 16,
COSSU 7,
SAU 9,
PINILLA
Photo sampdoria.it
INTER – SASSUOLO
Referee: PERUZZO
Assistants: LIBERTI – PAGANESSI
Fourth Official: SCHENONE
ADD1: DE MARCO
ADD2: CERVELLERA
20:45
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Inter, 6th position with 33 points and a positive goal difference of +12
Sassuolo, 19th position with 17 points and a negative goal difference of -25
Here is the probable formation for INTER 3-5-1-1: HANDANOVIC 1,
CAMPAGNARO 14,
ROLANDO 35,
JUAN JESUS 5,
D’AMBROSIO 33,
TAIDER 21,
HERNANES 88,
GUARIN 13,
NAGATOMO 55,
KOVACIC 10,
PALACIO 8
Here is the probable formation for SASSUOLO 3-5-2: PEGOLO 79,
CANNAVARO 29,
MANFREDINI 21,
ARIAUDO 6,
ROSI 87,
BRIGHI 22,
MARRONE 8,
BIONDINI 16,
LONGHI 3,
BERARDI 25
What are your predictions? Take a guess and POST THEM NOW…
Let’s get the ball rolling and talk about the games, grab your snacks…
Your Predictions??? Make your calculations and
changes… get your dancing pencil..
Fiorentina – Atalanta
Udinese – Chievo Verona
Napoli – AC Milan
Torino – Bologna
Sampdoria – Cagliari
Parma – Catania
Livorno – Genoa
Hellas Verona – Juventus
Lazio – AS Roma
Inter – Sassuolo
NOTE: Copy and paste in the comment box the predictions adding your own choices.
Anna Italia Predictions.
Fiorentina – Atalanta = FIORENTINA
Udinese – Chievo Verona = UDINESE
Napoli – AC Milan = DRAW
Torino – Bologna = TORINO
Sampdoria – Cagliari = SAMPDORIA
Parma – Catania = PARMA
Livorno – Genoa = GENOA
Hellas Verona – Juventus = DRAW
Lazio – AS Roma = AS ROMA
Inter – Sassuolo = INTER
By Anna Italia
What do you think of the results? Which players surprised you or disappointed you and why?
The Europa League zone. Fiorentina
Top scorer up to Round 22: Fiorentina forward Giuseppe Rossi with 14 goals
