Sunday 17th April 2011
Fiorentina v Juventus 0-0
Juventus missed the opportunity to close the gap on Roma and Udinese as they stumbled to a scoreless draw at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Fiorentina bossed the game from the first minute and could, and should, have won the game were it not for a host of missed opportunities. The Viola were sitting tenth in the table with only a Europa League spot to play for whereas The Old Lady were chasing the final Champions League spot and trying to extended their three game winning streak.
Juventus boasted a proud record in Florence as they have not lost at Fiorentina since 1998 when a goal from former Serie A legend Gabriel Batistuta seperated the two sides.
A shot from winger Alessio Cerci on 13 minutes produced the first bit of excitement of the game. His effort from the edge of the area though was deflected over for a corner. Nothing came of the corner, a pattern that would emerge throughout the course of the match.
Half chances and speculative efforts came and went from the Viola during a fairly drab first 45 minutes. Peruvian midfielder Juan Manuel Vargas, formerly of Catania fame, had the best of the opportunities but his shot went straight into the grateful arms of keeper Gigi Buffon. Top scorer Alberto Gilardino also had his chance to break the deadlock on 24 minutes after Adrian Mutu, back after a three game suspension, thread a lovely ball through to him but Gilardino’s first touch let him down and the chance disappeared.
Fiorentina’s recent home record of only two defeats, to both Milan teams, in the last six months never really looked in danger although Juve tried to up the tempo in the second half.
Artur Boruc was first called into action on 59 minutes when substitute Del Piero had a clever shot and turn in the box which brought out a good save from Polish shot-stopper.
Sensing the need for some additional firepower Juve coach Luigi Delneri brought on every Italian club’s favourite striker for hire Luca Toni. His only meaningful contribution was to take the ball off teammate Claudio Marchisio’s toes inside the Fiorentina box when Italian midfielder looked set to lash the ball goal wards.
Sinisa Mihajlovic’s team again had the better of the chances as the game wore on but a combination of poor finishing and poor control continued to keep the score line neutral.
A second successive season away from Champions League football is now facing Juve and on performances like this they can have no complaints.
Donnie Kemp
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