Romania international striker Adrian Mutu has tested positive for a banned substance, according to the Italian Olympic Committee.
The IOC said that they found traces of anti-obesity drug sibutramine in Mutu’s urine after the match between Fiorentina and Bari on 10 January. Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant drug used for obese people, although it was recently banned in the UK amid fears over the increased risks of heart attacks and strokes. Why Mutu was taking an appetite suppressant drug is a mystery. Read more... (167 words, 3 images, estimated 40 secs reading time)
It was inevitable that all the 3 Italian representatives in the Champions League would be handed tough opponents when the draw for the knock-out stages was held on Friday. However, the fixture that really caught my eye was the Bayern Munich vs Fiorentina match-up.
Apart from the Inter Miln -Chelsea fixture and AC Milan-Manchester united fixture, i believe this is the one fixture that is bound to have all football lovers anxiously anticipating February 2010. I say this because Fiorentina and Bayern Munich have never met in this prestigious tournament and also because both these two teams are doing well in their leagues. Read more... (314 words, 2 images, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)
Fiorentina are having their best start to a season in quite a long time. After last night’s Champions League Group E 1-0 win over Olympique Lyonnais of France, the Viola have booked their place in the knock-out stages of Europe’s premier event.
Fiorentina who are currently in 6th place in the Serie A table have been playing some good football this season and it is mostly in part due to their young strikers Alberto Gilardino and Stefan Jovetic. This good display continued yesterday during their match as they hit the post twice in as many minutes before finally scoring the all important goal in the 28th minute courtesy of a Juan Vargas penalty. Read more... (237 words, 3 images, estimated 57 secs reading time)
Serie A high flyer’s Fiorentina were beaten 3-2 at their Artemio Franchi home stadium by an impressive Parma on Saturday night. This win sent Parma up to third place on 23 points from 13 games.
Fiorentina who were looking to keep the pressure on League leaders inter by wining were the first to open the scoring thanks to an Alberto Gilardino 25th minute header. It did not take long for Parma to respond as Nicola Amoruso leveled just 5 minutes later. Fiorentina playing in front of a crowd of just 25,000 went behind in the 53rd minute after sensational forward Valeri Bojinov tapped in the ball from a free-kick. Read more... (301 words, 2 images, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)
It is advantage Fiorentina at the midway point of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie against Sporting Lisbon after they gained a 2-2 first-leg draw in Lisbon.
Juan Manuel Vargas sent Fiorentina on their way by opening the scoring and Alberto Gilardino’s goal eleven minutes from time gave Cesare Prandelli’s team a great finish after the hosts had turned the match around with two goals in eight second-half minutes. Simon Vukčević and Miguel Veloso put the Portuguese side 2-1 ahead, but the former was sent off just after bringing Sporting level and will miss next week’s decider in Florence. Read more... (434 words, 3 images, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)
Nickname(s): The Purples
All-Time Ranking: 5th
2007/2008 Finish: 4th
2008/2009 Position (as of 04/07): 5th
Coach: Cesare Prandelli
Key Players: Alberto Gilardino, Dario Dainelli, Adrian Mutu
History:
Fiorentino (ACF) was founded in 1926 and only four clubs have spent more time in Serie A since. Though they have only captured the league title twice, they have hoisted the Coppa Italia trophy on six occassions. They also have had some success in continental tournaments, including the 56/57 European Cup where they finished as runners-up. Read more... (203 words, 3 images, estimated 49 secs reading time)
Serie A outfits Udinese and Juventus are set to compete against each other in league action today. The Old Lady – currently second in the league – sits 20 points ahead of Udinese which occupies the 14th slot.
Samba striker Amauri leads Juventus with 11 goals. Antonio Di Natale paces Udinese with nine.
The match will be played at the Stadio Friuli in Udine. Udinese recently signed Finnish midfielder Sakari Mattila. The 19-year-old could factor today. He joins Finnish national team midfielder Roman Eremenko at the Italian side.
Also on tap today in Serie A action: Read more... (127 words, 2 images, estimated 30 secs reading time)
English Premiership side Everton have lost out on their bid to bolster their strike force. The club was rumored to be after Giampaolo Pazzini, but Sampdoria has snuck in and taken the striker off of Fiorentina’s hands in a deal that could be worth an eventual €8million (£7.2m).
The 24-year-old former Italian U-21 international was a lock for first-team minutes last year at Fiorentina. This year he has seen his minutes dwindle, mainly because of the arrival of Alberto Gilardino.
Along with the massive amount of cash, Sampdoria forward Emiliano Bonazzoli is moving to Fiorentina. The Italian power has the option to retain Bonazzoli at the end of the summer if it so chooses. Read more... (191 words, 2 images, estimated 46 secs reading time)
Roma launched 22 shots today, six on goal at the Stadio Olimpico as the outfit continues to climb back into next season’s European discussion. Francesco Totti’s second-half goal ensured a 1-0 victory; it was the club’s third straight win over Fiorentina in Rome.
The Giallorossi now sit 14th in the Serie A table, but only six points out of a UEFA Cup bid. Roma has won three straight — a 1-0 win versus Lazio in the Rome derby and then last weekend’s 3-0 away win at Lecce.
Fiorentina now have five away defeats on the year. Read more... (243 words, 2 images, estimated 58 secs reading time)
The 21-year-old on loan from Internazionale scored via penalty kick today to help Cagliari defeat Fiorentina in Serie A action.
The forward who is of Italian-Polish decent is quickly rising up the ranks of Italy’s top attacking players. He has five goals thus far and looks like a lock to end with a double-digit goal tally on the season. He has made 8 starts and 3 substitutions on the season.
Has has six goals with Italy’s U-21 squad.
Other Italian stars born in 1987 include: Read more... (150 words, 2 images, estimated 36 secs reading time)
- Antonio Candreva (midfielder on Italy’s Olympic and U-21 squads)
