Fiorentina winger Josip Ilicic (#72) scores a consolation goal against Roma. (Photo : Getty Images)
Contending team ACF Fiorentina (16-7-5, 53 points) is keen on bouncing back from their matchday 29 setback as they host cellar-dwelling squad Hellas Verona FC (2-14-12, 18 points) at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 13th, Sunday as the 2015-2016 Serie A season moves forward.
Fiorentina dropped a game in the domestic league for the first time since Jan. 24th after an embarrassing 1-4 defeat in the hands of surging squad AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico last Friday, as reported by Goal.
Three quick goals from the capital city squad in the first half, courtesy of forwards Stephan El Shaarawy, Mohamed Salah, and Diego Perotti at the 22nd, 25th, and 38th minutes respectively, gave the hosts a huge three-goal advantage early in the match.
Viola managed to trim the gap to only a point when winger Josip Ilicic netted a penalty kick at the stroke of halftime.
However, it was the only goal that Paulo Sousa's boys will be able to pull off in the match as Salah scored his second goal of the match two minutes before the hour mark to seal the game for Roma.
The loss widened the gap of fourth-running Fiorentina from third-running Roma to three points in the overall standings.
Meanwhile, suffered their second straight loss after getting beat by lowly squad Sampdoria, 0-3, at their own home field of Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi last Saturday, as per SkySports.
I Blucerchiati scored all of its goals in the first half, courtesy of midfielder Roberto Soriano, forward Antonio Cassano, and midfielder Lazaros Christodoulopoulos at the sixth, 11th, and 30th minutes respectively.
From there, the two teams went scoreless the rest of the way as the hosts could not build any comeback runs in the second half.
It was the Mastiffs' third loss in their last six outings as they remain in the bottom of the league table, four points away from closest team Carpi FC.
The predicted result is a 3-0 romp for Fiorentina as Verona suffers another three-goal blanking and a third straight goalless effort.
Fiorentina starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formatn embaron): Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Gonzalo, Astori, Alonso; Vecino, Costa; Bernardeschi, Ilicic, Valero; Kalinic
Verona starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Grassi; Pisano, Moras, Helander, Fares; Wszolek, Ionita, Marrone, Siligardi; Rebic, Toni
