Fiorentina vs. Napoli, 2014 Coppa Italia final: Azzurri win for the fifth time

Their opening two goals came so early on that it looked like the game would end up a completely one-sided affair. It took just 12 minutes for Insigne to race through on the counter-attack and tuck Marek Hamšík’s cutting pass inside Neto’s far post, and only five more before the winger met Gonzalo Higuaín’s cross in the box and, via a Nenad Tomović deflection, double the Neapolitans’ advantage.

Fiorentina looked extremely poor, with their play narrow and predictable, and their defending chaotic. With their fast breaks and attacking width, Napoli looked capable of slicing the Tuscans apart at will. But the old cliché that goals change games was proven right when Vargas halved the viola deficit with a snapshot from the edge of the box just short of the half-hour mark; changing the complexion of the game in an instant.

The Coppa Italia final between Napoli and Fiorentina is finally underway after a long delay. Violence before the match caused serious injuries to Napoli fans, enraging the Napoli-supporting section of the crowd, but they were convinced to let the game go on.

Police in Rome believe that the shooting that has been widely reported was not directly related to clashes between fans. They say it was a completely separate incident.

According to the Associated Press, there are two victims, but the reports are not clear as to whether or not it was the result of gunfire or some kind of explosive device. There have been unconfirmed reports that an IED-like device filled with nails is potentially responsible.

Il Mattino reported that a gun is believed responsible for the injury, but also says that an explosive device could be involved. It also reported that people have been seen throwing objects, and that a police officer was not among those injured.

When it comes to cup finals, form often tends to go out of the window, though it’s the viola who have the edge heading in. The Tuscans have won three of their last four matches, while the stuttering Neapolitans have won only one of their last four. Fiorentina also won the last time these sides met in the league back in March, yet they’re still eight points adrift of Napoli in the Serie A table.

Fiorentina injuries and suspensions