Fiorentina vs. Chievo: Final score 3-1, Viola shake off rough patch with first win in a month

After losing 1-0 to Juventus in their last league match, Vincenzo Montella made four changes to his Fiorentina side for this encounter with Marvin Compper, Massimo Ambrosini, Rafal Wolski and Alessandro Matri replacing Stefan Savić, Alberto Aquilani, Juan Vargas and Mario Gómez. Chievo manager Eugenio Corini made three changes to his side with Bostjan Cesar, Dario Dainelli and Ivan Radovanović replacing the suspended Michele Canini and Alessandro Bernardini and Roberto Guana also dropping out.

Whilst the opening passages of play were notable only for their lack of cohesion on both sides, the opening goal, which came after 11 minutes, was an outstanding piece of play. Juan Cuadrado had the ball on the right hand side and he played it back for David Pizarro in a more central position. The Colombian winger had meanwhile made a run beyond the Chievo defence and Pizarro knocked a brilliant first time ball over the top, which Cuadrado met and volleyed first time over Agazzi, a stunning finish to a stunning passage of play.

Brilliant as the goal was, it unfortunately didn't manage to shock either side into any manner of coherent play and the match continued to be defined by misplaced passes and on Chievo's part, aimless punts forward. Indeed, it was the Flying Donkeys who perhaps had the better of the first period, their one big chance coming when Alberto Paloschi sprung the offiside trap following a mistake from Modibo Diakité. Left one-on-one with Neto, the striker shot meekly straight at the Brazilian custodian and couldn't keep the rebound in play.

Five minutes later and Paloschi's poor finishing was punished further as Fiorentina doubled their advantage. Anderson won the ball from Luca Rigoni and pushed forward into the space in front of him. He slid the ball in for Cuadrado in the penalty area and although his first touch was poor, he still managed to pull the ball back from the bye-line for Alessandro Matri to tap home from six yards and ensure La Viola went in at half time with a two-goal advantage.

Again, both sides struggled to create anything major and it took until the final ten minutes for a flurry of activity to take place. Fiorentina were offered the chance to put the game to bed after Matteo Rubin blocked substitute Josip Iličić's volley with an outstretched arm and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot. David Pizarro's penalty was reasonably well directed but Michael Agazzi got down well to divert it around the post and keep his side in it.

With four minutes remaining, another substitute in Sergio Pellissier was given the chance to equalise as a kind bounce found him in the penalty area but he shot wide whilst completely unchallenged, although Neto was well placed.

It fell to Mario Gómez to complete his rehabilitation from injury by scoring to put the match beyond doubt, latching on to Iličić's through ball and calmly placing it through Agazzi's legs to ensure Fiorentina's first league win since the 11th of February.