Fiorentina

The Viola have a history of snapping up hot prospects relatively cheap at young age, as they previously did with Adem Ljajic and Stevan Jovetic, and the 18-year-old Zohore perfectly fits in their transfer policy.

Zohore is a product of the Copenhagen youth academy, and made his first team debut only one month after turning 16.

The striker, who has been capped at Under-19 level for Denmark, previously enjoyed trials at Chelsea and Inter, but will now continue his career at Fiorentina instead. (goal)

Fiorentina

According to Football Italia, Fiorentina will enter the winter transfer market to search for a new striker after selling Alberto Gilardino to Genoa this weekend.

Although interested in Juventus striker Amauri and Maxi Lopez of Catania, Chamakh’s name also enters the compiled list of sporting director Pantaleo Corvino.

Fiorentina wants to get Chamakh on loan, and have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

Chamakh joined Arsenal on a free transfer in 2010 after his contract with Bordeaux ended.

There was already pressure on the tactician before this evening’s 2-1 defeat to their arch-rivals in Turin, but the result and sluggish performance intensified the crisis.

“We gifted the first half to Juve, because we simply didn’t play,” said substitute Gilardino.

“After the break we put more on to the pitch and created a few more problems for Juve, but conceding the second goal rather took the wind out of our sails.

“We’ve got to put that first half performance behind us as quickly as possible, because we just threw it away.

“I don’t think it is just a lack of character. We’ve got to find a solution within the locker room to rediscover that something we have lost.

“We are all behind the Coach and try to do what he asks of us, but in the first half we just didn’t manage it,” continued Gilardino.

“Mihajlovic focuses only on the squad all week and gives all of himself to Fiorentina. Now it’s up to us players to give more.” – Football Italia

This was always one of the biggest grudge matches in Serie A and there was a lot at stake on this Tuesday night. The opener to the midweek round saw Juve fall off the top spot with one win from five games, even if they were still unbeaten, while Viola fans called for Sinisa Mihajlovic to be sacked after three points from the last four matches.

Arturo Vidal returned from injury to start in an adjusted tactical system and pink strip, though Gigi Buffon and Emanuele Giaccherini were sidelined and Milos Krasic sent to the stands. Fiorentina had Riccardo Montolivo suspended, joining the injured Per Kroldrup and Mattia Cassani. Alberto Gilardino was only fit for the bench, Houssine Kharja drafted in to midfield.

Simone Pepe tested Artur Boruc after three minutes, then the Polish goalkeeper palmed a Claudio Marchisio snapshot over the bar.

Pepe had a fantastic chance set up by Alessandro Matri’s backheel flick, but horribly miscued when unmarked outside the box. Mirko Vucinic did much the same, then fired wide from the D.

Some horrible defending allowed Juventus to take the lead. The Fiorentina squad stood still as an Andrea Pirlo corner was whipped in for Vidal’s effort and Leonardo Bonucci was undisturbed to pounce on Boruc’s short save.

Matri volleyed well over from Vidal’s cross in a very promising position, then Boruc sprinted off his line to charge down Pepe, who sprung the offside trap from a slide-rule pass.

Boruc smothered a deflected Vucinic attempt at the near post, while Matri came sliding in for Pepe’s low cross, put out for a corner by Alessandro Gamberini’s desperate intervention.

Vucinic was left unmarked to meet another corner, but didn’t put enough power on the shot to trouble Boruc. The former Roma striker did get a good finish away after a give-and-go with Vidal, but the angled drive was flashed across the face of goal.

In first half stoppages, Andrea Barzagli had a strong run down the right and his cross was prodded into Boruc’s arms by Matri.

Gilardino came on for the second half, switching to a 4-2-3-1 system, and within 60 seconds Marco Storari had been forced into his first save, as Jovetic headed a corner into the ground that was going under the bar. The team talk must’ve shaken the walls, as Fiorentina had a very different attitude.

Fiorentina made Juve pay for their wasteful first half finishing by drawing level. Gilardino got down the right and pulled back for Juan Manuel Vargas, who flicked it on for the Jovetic screamer from the D. It was the first goal the Viola have scored on their travels this season.

Juventus restored their advantage with Matri, though much of the credit must go to Pepe. The winger battled while surrounded by five Viola players to prod through a pass releasing Matri, who finished it off firmly.

Matri nearly got a second soon after, but his wonderful curler from the edge of the box brought an equally splendid flying save out of Boruc. – football-talia

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Juventus: Storari; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Marchisio, Pirlo, Vidal (Pazienza 87); Pepe (De Ceglie 86), Matri, Vucinic (Estigarribia 78)

Fiorentina: Boruc; De Silvestri, Gamberini, Natali, Pasqual; Munari, Behrami, Kharja (Silva 83); Cerci (Gilardino 46), Jovetic, Vargas (Ljajic 70)

Serie A Italia – Fiorentina 1-2 Lazio Highlights

Goals:
8′  [1 - 0] A. Cerci
28′ [1 - 1] A. Hernanes
83′ [1 - 2] M. Klose

Alessio Cerci was able to respond to public expectations at Artemio Franchi as he opened the scoring in the 8th minute after maximizing an assist by Juan Vargas. This is his ninth goal in 10 games with Fiorentina.

However, Lazio were able to act positively towards that goal. In the 28th minute, Brazilian midfielder Hernanes was able to equalize after receiving an assist from Klose.

In the 83rd minute, Klose became the hero as he scored his third goal in the Serie A this season. The 2-1 score line was the final score of the game.

Meanwhile, in another match at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma looked strong as they beat Genoa 3-1, (2 / 10). Parma’s hero in the victory was Sebastian Giovinco who notched two goals in this match.

Giovinco’s first goals was created in the 29th minute after receiving a pass from Sergio Floccari. Meanwhile, the second goal from Giovinco was created through a penalty three minutes before halftime.

In the second half, Parma were able to increase their lead with a goal by Stefano Morrone in the 50th minute. Genoa were only able to steal one back through Rodrigo Palacio’s penalty two minutes into injury time.

Serie A Results on Sunday (2 / 10):
Novara 3-3 Catania (Rigoni 49-p, Morimoto 65, Pause 85 – Legrottaglie 14, Lodi 57, Gomez 90)
Cesena Chievo 0-0
Fiorentina 1-2 Lazio (Cerci 8 – Hernanes 28, Klose 83)
Lecce 0-2 Cagliari (Ribeiro 10, Biondini 40)
Siena 2-0 Palermo (Migliaccio 19, Hernandez 90-p)
Parma 3-1 Genoa (Giovinco 29, 42-p, Morrone 50 – Palacio 90-p)
Bologna 2-0 Udinese (Benatia 29, Di Natale 72-p)

Stevan Jovetic

Previously, Jovetic has expressed his desire to sign a new contract with La Viola. And now, according to Football Italia, he had planned to speak with the club this weekend related with his contract.

It is believed that his agent, fali Ramadani would be in the stands during the match against Lazio. The reason is that Ramadani would first discuss about the future of his client before the game. The club themselves will see the possibility to renew the contract of Jovetic that will expire in 2013.

Although Jovetic is ready to extend his career at Fiorentina, his agent apparently  is still not going to stop claiming that Jovetic is very marketable. Although dismissed rumors about a move to Chelsea in January, Ramadani affirms that there are many clubs who wants his client’s.

“The interest of Chelsea is just a rumor, I do not even want to comment on it. A lot of teams are interested in Jojo and among them, Chelsea could be one of them,” said Ramadani.

Fiorentina

The 27-year-old defender has made the switch over to the side after spending the past five years in the Sicilian team.

According to a brief note on Fiorentina’s official website, the defender has been taken on loan with a right to purchase. Further details have yet to be announced.

The Italian international became the most capped player in Serie A history for Palermo this past February, upon reaching his 151st appearance.

Velez Sarsfield

The news comes as a huge blow to the Argentine club, who have witnessed the departure of another important attacking player following the €12 million sale of Ricky Alvarez to Inter earlier in the summer.

Velez president Fernando Raffaini said the club had no interest in parting company with the 30-year-old, but as Fiorentina met the striker’s release clause, there was nothing he could do to avoid the transfer.

“We offered him a very good three-year contract, but the player expressed the need to take this opportunity to return to Europe and have his revenge,” Raffaini said at a press conference.

Silva will be hoping to make his mark in the European continent after a first spell without much success at Energie Cottbus and Beira-Mar.

Fiorentina have stayed silent on this matter, and there has been no indication about the length of the Uruguayan’s contract.

Vincenzo Iaquinta

Iaquinta, 31, who sustained a thigh injury last week after returning from a similar problem, has long been linked with an exit after an injury-hampered season.

Napoli have been strongly associated with his services, but Fiorentina are said to be looking for a forward to replace Alberto Gilardino, who seems destined for Genoa.

However, D’Amico believes the Tuscany-based side are not in the hunt for a new man up front despite losing Adrian Mutu to Cesena this summer.

“I have spoken with Fiorentina director of sport Pantaleo Corvino and I do not think he is interested in my client [Iaquinta],” the agent told Lady Radio.

Iaquinta’s current deal in Turin expires in 2013. Last term he was blighted by injury, making just eight starts for Juventus.