Catania vs Fiorentina, Final Score 2-1: Sicilians slice apart Viola to take the spoils

A late Lucas Castro strike ensured there was no happy homecoming for former coach Vincenzo Montella, as Catania beat ten-man Fiorentina 2-1 at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

he Argentine struck two minutes from time after Nicola Legrottaglie cancelled out Giulio Migliaccio's first half opener. Alberto Aquilani was sent off late in the second half for the visitors.
The Viola are still searching for their first victory of 2013, while the win moves Rolando Maran's side up to 7th and within a point of their opponents.

Catania were without suspended duo Francesco Lodi and seven goal top scorer Gonzalo Bergessio, while Sergio Almiron and Giovanni Marchese missed out through injury. Fiorentina were without the injured David Pizarro once again and Mounir El Hamdaoui was on African Cup of Nations duty.
Pablo Alvarez and Castro sent early efforts wide for the home side, before Fiorentina hit the front midway through the first half. Manuel Pasqual's corner was only half cleared, giving him a second chance to cross. Everyone missed the ball except for Migliaccio, who stuck his head out to nod in at the far post.
It could have been two, but Legrottaglie picked Adem Ljajic's pocket just as the Serbian was about to pull the trigger from an advanced part inside the area. Stefan Savic then had to make a crucial block to stop Castro from shooting in a dangerous position.
Catania equalised five minutes after the restart. Neto was late to come for a free kick and Legrottaglie beat him to it to head the ball into the net.
Juan Cuadrado headed an effort off the turf and onto the cross bar, then Ljajic rattled the upright after curling his free kick over the Catania wall. Aquilani swept the rebound wide.
Mariano Andujar stayed alert to tip Cuadrado's dipping shot around the post. At the other end, Neto saved Castro's effort from distance, only to spill the ball for a corner.
Cuadrado and Luca Toni both had offside decisions go against them when they were in promising positions to score, before Aquilani talked himself into an early bath after complaining too much about a wayward challenge.
The ten men continued to pour forward looking for a winner. Stevan Jovetic went close from 30 yards, with his strike only just evading the target. Then came the sucker punch.
Pablo Barrientos found space down the right hand side and crossed for Castro to rise above Facundo Roncaglia and head over Neto into the far corner. Castro will have to wait to build on this strike as a costly stoppage time booking rules the forward out of next weekend's game at Napoli.
Catania: Andujar; Alvarez, Legrottaglie, Spolli, Capuano; (Ricchiuti 57) Bellusci, (Potenza 77) Biagianti, (Paglialunga 85) Izco, Castro, Gomez, Barrientos;
Fiorentina: Neto; Roncaglia, Gonzalo, Savic; Cuadrado, Aquilani, Migliaccio, Borja Valero, Pasqual; (Tomovic 82) Ljajic, (Toni 69) Jovetic
Goals: Migliaccio 22 (F) Legrottaglie 50 (C) Castro 88 (C)
Sent off: Aquilani 78 (F)

Full Time: Catania 2-1 Fiorentina

Catania have beaten Fiorentina by the scoreline 2-1.  Legrottaglie cancels out the Miggilacio header early in the second half before Castra heading home the winner two minutes from time. Its a bad January for Fiorentina who have lost 4 games (3 in Serie A and 1 in Coppa Italia) and only drawn 1 at home to Napoli.

Catania vs Fiorentina Preview: Sicilians look to spoil Montella's return

L'Aeroplanino guided Catania to an impressive 11th placed finish in Serie A, before departing to the Artemio Franchi. He now faces arguably his biggest task since taking over his reins, getting his stuttering side back on form.
In stark contrast, Rolando Maran's Catania side are yet to taste a league defeat this year. They even earned a rare away victory last weekend. Before people get carried away though, it was at lowly Genoa. That notwithstanding, the Elefanti now have momentum, something Fiorentina are desperately short of. Had it not been for Morgan De Sanctis' howler, Fiorentina would have tasted defeat against Napoli last weekend.
Stevan Jovetic and Luca Toni - 60 seconds into his Viola comeback put paid to Catania with a 2-0 victory back in Week 3. Fiorentina have got something out of this fixture in four of their last six visits, with three wins and a draw. However, it was Catania who won this fixture last season, thanks to Francesco Lodi's solitary penalty.
Fiorentina can see the Champions League slipping further away, as they currently trail Lazio and Napoli by seven points. Catania are hot on their opponents' tails, just four points behind in 8th.

The home side have relied on their three Argentinean tenors - Gonzalo Bergessio, Alejandro Gomez and Pablo Barrientos until the cows have come home. However, Bergessio will sit this game out through suspension, along with Lodi. Meanwhile, Sergio Almiron, Fabio Sciacca and Giovanni Marchese all look set to miss out through injury. The club signed Albanian Edgar Cani to serve as Bergessio's understudy this week, but are still waiting for international clearance to come through.
Giuseppe Rossi and Ahmed Hegazi are still long term absentees for the Viola, while a sprained ankle suffered at the start of the year against Pescara also keeps David Pizarro out. Both Matias Fernandez and Mattia Cassani are back in training and could feature on Sunday.
South American pair Matias Vecino and Marcelo Larrondo will be looking for their first action in a purple shirt. Uruguayan midfielder Vecino joined this week from Nacional Montevideo, while Argentine forward Larrondo joined on loan last week from Siena.
Catania injuries and suspensions
Out: Sergio Almiron, Fabio Sciacca, Giovanni Marchese (injured) Francesco Lodi, Gonzalo Bergessio (suspended)
Fiorentina injuries and suspensions
Out: Ahmed Hegazy, David Pizarro, Giuseppe Rossi (injured)

Defender Compper quits Hoffenheim for Fiorentina

BERLIN: Hoffenheim centre-back Marvin Compper signed a three-year deal to join Serie A side Fiorentina on Friday after the 27-year-old had been suspended by the Bundesliga club earlier in the week.

Hoffenheim confirmed Compper had left for Fiorentina in a deal reported to be worth around 200,000 euros to cap a turbulent week for the defender who made a single appearance for Germany against England back in 2008.

Having been left out of the squad for the goalless draw at home with Borussia Moenchengladbach last Saturday, Compper was suspended and accused of having a motivation problem by Hoffenheim manager Andreas Mueller. Compper has made more than 150 Bundesliga appearances since 2008 at Hoffenheim, who are in the Bundesliga’s bottom three.

Fiorentina update Pizarro injury

Fiorentina have updated the fitness status of David Pizarro, Giuseppe Rossi, Mattia Cassani and Mati Fernandez, warning the Chilean won’t be ready for this weekend.
The midfielder has been out of action since spraining his ankle in the first game of 2013, a 2-0 home defeat to Pescara.
“On January 6, Pizarro suffered a traumatic injury that did not include any lesions to the ligament or bone,” explained chief Viola medic Paolo Manetti.
“However, it sprained the area that unites the tibia and femur, just above the ankle. This is a very delicate injury. Pizarro has already assured us he can play through the pain, but we want him to be 100 per cent fit and there’s still something missing to complete the rehabilitation process.
“We will evaluate the situation day by day and see how it evolves during the week.”
Fiorentina’s medical staff also confirmed Cassani is back in full training after a thigh problem, while Mati Fernandez continues a specialised training schedule, but is expected to be fit for Catania on Sunday.
Rossi visited Professor Steadman yesterday, “confirming the stability of the knee and good muscular tone. From tomorrow the second phase of rehabilitation will begin.
“He’ll stay for a few days in New York, then come to Florence to complete the rehabilitation process. The next important check-up will be in eight weeks.”

Vecino: 'Fiorentina dream come true'

Fiorentina’s new signing Matias Vecino had his first training session today and declared “this is a dream come true.”
The 21-year-old Uruguayan midfielder completed his transfer from Nacional Montevideo this week.

“I was eager to start training with the squad and curious to meet a new city and new challenge, but it all went well,” he told the official Viola website.
“Our objectives are big and this is a dream come true, as I want to grow as a player here. I am an attacking midfielder who likes to play close to the box. My favourite player is Zinedine Zidane.
“I have Italian origins and hope to soon register an Italian passport, even if I don’t speak the language well yet.
“I already spoke with Marcelo Larrondo and Mati Fernandez, who helped me feel at home. I can already tell the intensity in training is different and you work more on tactics.
“Alvaro Recoba told me about Italian football and said Florence is a beautiful city. From what I’ve seen so far, it really is a place where you can live well.”

Fiorentina eye Fabio Qualiarella swoop?

Juventus striker Fabio Quagliarella has emerged as potential transfer target of Firoentina, according to reports.

The 29-year-old has made 18 appearances in all competitions this season - eight from the substitutes' bench - and scored eight goals in the process.

However, the arrival of Spanish international Fernando Llorente from Athletic Bilbao appears to have spelled the end for the Italian international.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Viola are weighing up an £8.5m summer bid for the former Napoli and Udinese target man.

Quagliarella joined Juve in 2010.