Chievo winger Valter Birsa (R) celebrates his goal against Inter with teammate Ivan Radovanovic. (Photo : Getty Images)
Europa League qualifiers ACF Fiorentina (0-1-0, 0 points) will try to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss in their opening game as they host surprise team AC Chievo Verona (1-0-0, 3 points) at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Aug. 28, Sunday as the newly-opened 2016-2017 Serie A season continues.
Fiorentina, who placed fifth last term to garner a berth in the Europa League group stage this season, was turned back by defending champions Juventus, 1-2, at the Juventus Stadium last Saturday, as per Goal.
German midfielder Sami Khedira drew first blood at the 37th minute of the match as the Old Lady brought a 1-0 lead at the break.
It took a while before head coach Paulo Sousa's boys found the equalizer, but it eventually came at the 70th minute with a powerful header from Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic, rising above Juve defender Alex Sandro, off a superb cross by Slovenian winger Josip Ilicic following a corner.
However, the stalemate was short-lived as Juve's newly-acquired power scorer Gonzalo Higuaín, who substituted for Mario Mandzukic at the 66th, scored his first goal for the club at the 75th off a rebound from another Khedira strike to snatch the three points away from Viola.
Meanwhile, Chievo stunned perennial powerhouse Inter Milan with a 2-0 opening day upset last Sunday at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, ESPN reported.
Slovenian winger Valter Birsa led head coach Rolando Maran's squad with a brace in the match to open the new season on a high note.
Gialloblu, who finished in the middle of the table last term at ninth place, were in a tight game against I Nerazzurri in the first 45 minutes as the first half ended with a goalless draw for both sides.
Birsa then scored his first goal four minutes after the restart as he successfully directed an assist from defender Fabrizio Cacciatore towards the net of Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
The 30-year-old forward then doubled the lead with nine minutes left before full time via a brilliant shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner of Handanovic's goal.
The predicted result is another 2-0 victory for Chievo.
Fiorentina starting lineup (3-4-3 formation): Tatarusanu; Tomovic, Gonzalo, Astori; Bernarderschi; Vecino, Badelj, Alonso; Chiesa, Kalinic, Ilicic
Chievo starting lineup (4-3-1-2 formation): Sorrentino; Cacciatore, Dainelli, Cesar, Gobbi; Castro, Radovanovic, Hetemaj; Birsa; Meggiorini, Inglese
