[Mark_Udinese]

From channel4:

Serie A Week 31 - 30/3/08 (14.00 UK)
Udinese - Fiorentina

Stadio Friuli

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Fiorentina need a win as they meet in-form Udinese at the Stadio Friuli in Week 31. The Viola are in fourth place and are clearly aiming for Champions League qualification, while the Bianconeri are two positions behind hoping to win a place in the UEFA Cup.

Last week’s round was positive for both teams. The Tuscans were successful against Lazio, while the Friulani comfortably beat Livorno. Last year’s corresponding tie ended 1-0 in favour of the locals, while in Week 12 Fiorentina suffered a 2-1 home defeat. This will be the perfect chance for them to take revenge.

The Bianconeri are flying high and should have no problems in qualifying for Europe. However, Sampdoria are just one point behind which means the Zebrette cannot really afford any slip-ups. “We are in really good shape,” said boss Pasquale Marino. “This game against Fiorentina will be fundamental for us.”

The Viola are looking to manage their four-point advantage over Milan, but things could get complicated in the coming weeks given the imminent UEFA Cup quarter-finals. “It will be difficult to win in Udine and we will be missing Adrian Mutu and Fabio Liverani,” noted Coach Cesare Prandelli.

Udinese are one of Serie A’s most entertaining sides thanks to Marino’s attacking mentality. The Bianconeri will play with a 3-4-3 system and their boss should name an unchanged formation this week. Cristian Zapata and Asamoah Gyan are still out injured.

Andrea Coda could be preferred in defence to Tomas Zapotocny. Giandomenico Mesto and Andrea Dossena will play wide on the flanks. The locals’ trident should be formed by Toto Di Natale, Simone Pepe and Fabio Quagliarella.

Prandelli isn’t afraid of Marino’s tactics and should line-up with a 4-3-3 formation. However, there is bad news for the Viola. The injuries of Alessandro Gamberini, Martin Jorgensen and Franco Semioli are added to by the suspensions of Mutu and Liverani.

Sebastien Frey should take the gloves despite not being 100 per cent fit. Per Kroldrup may start in defence, while one from Manuel Pasqual and Massimo Gobbi should cover the left-back role. Pablo Osvaldo will replace Mutu in attack.

Keep an eye on: Giampaolo Pazzini (Fiorentina) – The former Atalanta striker scored the winner against Lazio last Saturday. Pazzo is still hoping to convince Italy boss Roberto Donadoni to take him to Euro ’08.

Last season: Udinese 1-0 Fiorentina

Form guide: Udinese (W D D W W) Fiorentina (W L W L W)

 

[agemang]

worst news EVER..........................felipe out for the season after a serious calf injury:doh::scared:

and zapata is still out injured but his recuperation looks good. it would be nice to see him suit up for fiorentina because i dont think zapotocny can handle the center back role especially against pazzini. anyway...may the soccer gods be looking over us. FORZA UDINESE

 

[Mark_Udinese]

Half time: 1-0 to Udinese...brilliant goal from Inler

 

[Mark_Udinese]

Full time: Udinese 3-1 Fiorentina

We wasted some chances, but I cant complain, it was a great performance and a very important three points against a good side :thmbup:

From channel 4:

Udinese 3 - 1 Fiorentina
Inler 13 (U), Vieri 63 (F), Di Natale 72 (U), Quagliarella 77 (U)
Stadio Friuli

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Udinese won this battle to get back into the Champions League race and leapfrog Milan into fifth place.

This was set to be a thoroughly entertaining encounter between two of the most attack-minded teams in the top flight. To add spice, it was a head-to-head for European places and the Viola wanted revenge after losing 2-1 on home turf back in November. However, Adrian Mutu and Fabio Liverani were suspended, while Udinese had Cristian Zapata and Gyan Asamoah sidelined.

Fiorentina's last win at the Friuli was 2-1 in October 2001, followed by two draws and a 1-0 defeat a year ago. Fabio Quagliarella put the ball in the back of the net after a minute, but he was offside.

Zdravko Kuzmanovic brought a tough save out of Samir Handanovic from a Martin Jorgensen assist, but it was Udinese who broke the deadlock. Quagliarella tried to turn inside the area, but could only cut back for Gokhan Inler to unleash a left-foot screamer under the bar from outside the area.

Mario Alberto Santana fought back with a solo effort wide of the near post, then on 34 minutes Jorgensen flicked on a cross for Riccardo Montolivo's right-foot strike to crack against the woodwork.

Straight after the restart Sebastien Frey flew to parry a fierce Simone Pepe strike and Antonio Di Natale failed to make the most of the loose ball.

Quagliarella's left-foot strike forced another fine save out of Frey as Udinese tried to put the result beyond doubt.

Handanovic was not to be outdone and also performed heroics at the other end of the field on both Daniel Pablo Osvaldo and Giampaolo Pazzini's follow-up.

The Viola eventually got on level terms with Christian Vieri coming off the bench to net almost immediately. Giampaolo Pazzini held up Tomas Ujfalusi's cross for a Vieri looping header into the far top corner. He had been on the field for just four minutes.

Massimo Gobbi combined with Vieri, bringing a crucial tackle out of Damiano Ferronetti.

Udinese restored their advantage on 72 minutes with a classic counter-attack. Di Natale gathered from Inler on the halfway line and ran the entire length to drill past a helpless Frey at the near post.

Fiorentina were caught out on the counter again soon after, as Dossena's cross from the left found Quagliarella at the back post. Frey parried the header, but could do nothing on the follow-up.

Osvaldo flashed an angled drive across the face of goal, but they could not get back into the game.


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Udinese: Handanovic; Ferronetti, Zapotocny, Lukovic, Mesto, D'Agostino (Pinzi 80), Inler, Dossena, Pepe, Quagliarella (Floro Flores 83), Di Natale (Isla 75)

Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Gobbi, Kuzmanovic, Donadel, Montolivo (Osvaldo 51), Santana, Pazzini (Pasqual 68), Jorgensen (Vieri 59)

Ref: Morganti

 

[agemang]

i go back to my first thread that i posted labeled "gokhan inler"........and today's win should be labeled "gokhan inler punishes fiorentina". fellow udinese fans, this could prove to be the win of the season up there with juventus at the alpi. we played from start to finish without stopping. but most importantly, we played with confindence and the look of experience and showing those two attributes with an abundance of young inexperienced players really means everything. if we can keep up this consistency and not lose focus especially against teams like siena next week and on bigger games like roma...well my friends, champions league is in sight. today marks another achievement besides the three points but we have just about assured a uefa cup place. we are in fifth by a point above milan and sampdoria. before we worry about what milan does
we have to watch sampdoria who we play in 3 weeks. FORZA GOKHAN INLER FORZA UDINESE ALEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

 

[Deano]

I saw the game, you guys wer every good indeed. Fiorentina also played well, but Di Natale really is the difference because Mutu was out for them. I think Prandelli made a bad choice when he took off Pazzini and La Viola were on top, but Udinese regained the momentum once he was off. Great goals by Inler and Di Natale.

 

[agemang]

yea you say mutu was out for them and di natale was the difference maker, but lets not for get we were playing with a "make shift" defensive line. NO felipe, NO zapata, NOT EVEN coda was available. we pretty much dismembered fiorentina with a defense that has never played together before. that is really impressive. FORZA

 

[Deano]

I think bioth teams had chances though indeed... Udinese finished there's better and in particular Di Natale... great finish by him.

 

[agemang]

totally agreed...toto should be able to finish just as well against roma too because we are gonna beat them up just like fiorentina :boxing:

 

[Helvetia]

Inler is f*cking brilliant...
So proud to be both swiss and Udinese

Let's bring in some other swiss kids. I'd like to give Ziegler a chance if Dossena leaves, he got lots of potential but doesn't have the coach's confidence at Samp.