Fiorentina v. Juventus: Preview

By: Ted | August 29th, 2008

Immediately on the heels of a critically important Champions League qualifier comes this next game, which in its own way is one of the most important matches of Fiorentina’s season. The Viola will open their campaign on Sunday in the opening week’s headline game at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence where they take on their oldest and most bitter rivals, Juventus.

I have been waiting for this match for ages. For various reasons the Champions League qualifying tie wasn’t shown here in the states, and friendlies can be fun but are pretty meaningless. This match, then, is my first chance to really see how our new-look team is doing and how they will cope in the new season.

Fiorentina and Juventus, of course, have a long and often volatile relationship. For many people the most memorable moments include when Juve pipped the Viola for the title on the final day of the season in the early 80’s and purchased Roberto Baggio from the Viola a few years later. (Many remember Baggio’s subsequent refusal to take penalties against his old team.) I am always reminded of these highlights every time I visit Florence, usually by cab drivers who refuse to believe that any American might be familiar with even the most rudimentary aspects of Fiorentina’s history.

Sunday’s match is colored most recently by Fiorentina’s 3-2 walloping of Juve in Turin, and their subsequent qualification for the Champions League. Indeed little separated the two clubs last year as Juve finished third and the Viola fourth in Series A play. This year looks to be more of the same, especially seeing as how both teams reloaded impressively. Fiorentina’s improvements have, of course, been detailed in these pages and include Gila up front, Melo as a midfield destroyer and Vargas attacking from the back. Juve, meanwhile, have only added to their attack with the addition of Amauri from Palermo and brings a strong overall squad loaded with experienced, consistent players. I am looking (and hoping) for an attacking, wide-open match on Sunday, one that will do the opening weekend of football in Italy proud. In truth, I can’t wait for kick-off.

Recent Form (in games that actually mattered)

Juve

29 July Juventus 2-2 Milan (Tim Cup)

13 Aug Juventus 4-0 Artmedia

26 Aug Artmedia 1-1 Juventus

Fiorentina

12 Aug Fiorentina 2 – 0 Slavia Prague

27 Aug Slavia Prague 0-0 Fiorentina

Starting Line-Ups (The Return of the Blind Guess Department! Hooray!)

Juve

Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Molinaro; Camoranesi, Poulsen, Marchisio, Giovinco; Trezeguet, Del Piero.

Fiorentina

Frey; Zauri, Gamberini, Kroldrup, Vargas; Kuzmanovic, Melo, Montolivo; Jovetic, Osvaldo, Gilardino

(I actually have doubts that Jovetic will start but I’ve seen it reported in three places and am assuming that these people know something I don’t. They usually do.)

Who’s NOT Playing?

Pavel Nedved looks out for the Bianconeri. Good riddance, I say. All sources I have are currently reporting Mutu will not play for the Viola. Damn it.

Prediction

I have been talking myself into this all week, but I really do think Fiorentina can take this game even without Mutu. I honestly believe the great man has been focusing on it since the schedules were announced last month, and a win would get the team on absolutely the best foot as they move forward in the new season. Plus, it would be so fucking great to stick it to those bastards from Turin, wouldn’t it?

I say the Viola win 3-1.

TV Situation

A Fiorentina match will actually be televised live here in the states! It’s been so long I can’t believe it. The game will be shown on FSC at 2:30 PM EST. If any of my friends are reading this, don’t bother calling during the match; the phone will be off the hook.

I will be back on Sunday night with a recap, as well as any last-second transfer news that might happen. In the meantime, if you are out this weekend, don’t forget to raise your glass and toast luck for the upcoming season; not that we’re necessarily gonna need it, but it sure can’t hurt.

Forza Viola, everybody!



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Comments  

  • alessio |  August 29th, 2008 at 6:14 pm

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    Ah, the “Fiorentina-Juve” derby. No one in Turin considers it a real derby anymore, Juve-Napoli is a much much bigger one.

    Pavel has been cleared to play, so hopefully the beautiful bastard will be on the pitch. Other than that your XI looks about right.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Nolan |  August 29th, 2008 at 7:26 pm

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    Well it’s time to grab the attention of people in Turin then.

    Forza Viola!

    Posted from Canada Canada

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  • alessio |  August 29th, 2008 at 7:42 pm

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    Should be a great game, I’m looking forward to it.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Joe |  August 29th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

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    objectively speaking, the viola-juve and napoli-roma matches are two epic ways to kick off the season. i think the world of prandelli and figure he’ll get a lot from gilardino.

    good luck!

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Johonna |  August 30th, 2008 at 12:12 am

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    Fiorentina have just GOT TO BEAT those nasty hunchbacks! For all that is good and right in the world – Forza Viola.

    And I agree, Pavel Nedved is a nasty nasty man – he broke my Figo and I will never forgive him. I think he is the only person I have ever seriously wished harm to… Ok, him and Dick Cheney… But Nedved was right up there.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • alessio |  August 30th, 2008 at 1:02 am

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    Just cause Figo’s a pussy made of crystal doesn’t mean you gotta be hating on the Czech Fury. Prandelli is a tremendous tactician and I also think the world of him. Of course an excellent Fiorentina coach would be a former Juventino… :)

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Johonna |  August 30th, 2008 at 1:31 am

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    I prefer to think of it as reformed rather than former. I believe in rehabilitation.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • alessio |  August 30th, 2008 at 9:07 am

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    That’s why C. Zanetti is so great, right?

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Johonna |  August 30th, 2008 at 10:41 am

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    Ok, that one almost made me shoot coffee out my nose!

    Tell you what, you guys can keep the C., we will hold on to the J. Deal?

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Johonna |  August 30th, 2008 at 10:43 am

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    And Cripes! you are a student on a Saturday morning, Alessio! Shouldn’t you be sleeping until noon at least?

    Posted from United States United States

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  • alessio |  August 30th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

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    Don’t I wish. Nope, I’m in the process of evacuating, currently stranded in an airport hotel in Chicago.

    I thought I was able to leave at noon (my flight was at 2) but nope, 9am knock on the door and they said I had 20minutes to get out. Didn’t help that I was pretty hungover……$2 draft Guiness, ’nuff said.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • vin |  August 30th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

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    Damn… good luck Alessio.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Johonna |  August 30th, 2008 at 4:02 pm

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    Yikes. And good luck from me too. With all this silly football, I had just about lost touch with the real world.

    Wow. Safe Journey, Alessio.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Nick |  August 30th, 2008 at 7:30 pm

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    I read on Goal.com that Trezuguet left Saturday training with an injury to his knee and is out tomorrow. I guess Amauri is a decent replacement, so not sure how much advantage it is. Alessio, you are from NOLA?

    Posted from United States

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  • Fadayn |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:31 am

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    Forza la viola

    Posted from Ireland Ireland

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  • Fadayn |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:31 am

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    (just today)

    Posted from Ireland Ireland

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  • slakas |  August 31st, 2008 at 6:24 am

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    lol bologna strike first in milan

    Posted from United States

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  • slakas |  August 31st, 2008 at 6:46 am

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    milan tie it up but they look very ordinary in the back

    Posted from United States

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  • Nolan |  August 31st, 2008 at 8:19 am

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    Milan look worse in the back than we do.

    Posted from Canada Canada

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  • alessio |  August 31st, 2008 at 8:28 am

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    Nick, no, I go to college here. Still here though, I was supposed to be on a flight to Chicago last night at 9pm and then stay at a hotel, but the plane never showed up. I’m literally on the last United flight out of Nola here, they messed up my flight so I have to argue with them when I get there to get home, rather than Charlotte NC where they are routing me for some reason.

    Worst part is, I was supposed to be home at 830am this morning, instead I slept overnight in the airport here. I’m going to miss the game!

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Nick |  August 31st, 2008 at 10:53 am

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    Sorry, Alessio. Hope you get out safely.

    Posted from United States

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  • slakas |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:25 pm

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    ya ditto

    Posted from United States

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  • alessio |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:39 pm

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    Fiorentina didn’t look too good to me today, great goal from Gila though. I think Juve deserved to win it, but that’s calcio, the unpredictable. Congrats on the last-gasp equalizier and a good game.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Johonna |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:47 pm

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    HOORAY! I knew that Prandelli would work his magic on Gilardino.

    Great start. I will take a point against Juve any day.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Samson |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:55 pm

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    Grande Giral. Hope the guy gets his form back. Good game Viola, seemed like you where down and out but the new signing has already payed off.

    Posted from United States

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Comments are closed


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