Torino 0-0 Fiorentina: Viola lack cutting edge without Rossi

Date: 12th January 2014 at 2:31pm
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Torino and Fiorentina played out an entertaining 0-0 draw at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.

Fiorentina had the better of the game but could not take their chances in the absence of Mario Gomez and top-scorer Giuseppe Rossi, although the Granata will also feel they could have won the game through the excellent Alessio Cerci.

Josip Ilicic started furthest forward for the Viola, relying on support from Juan Cuadrado and Joaquin, leaving Vincenzo Montella’s men missing a real focal point in attack.

It was Torino who had the first effort of the game as Alessio Cerci cut inside to hit a low left-footed shot straight at Neto.
Fiorentina then began to take control and had a Matias Fernandez free-kick comfortably punched away by Daniele Padelli in the 8th minute.

In the 15th minute Joaquin skipped past Giovanni Pasquale on the right and clipped a cross to Facundo Roncaglia on the back post who wildly volleyed over the bar.

Borja Valero came close to opening the scoring as he got past Matteo Darmian on the left-hand side and curled a low shot just wide.

Torino started to grow into the game midway through the first-half with Fiorentina often playing themselves into trouble, but it was the Viola who should have taken the lead when Valero’s corner was nodded down by Gonzalo Rodriguez to Juan Cuadrado at the back post but the Colombian could only direct his shot wide.

Valero was involved again as he looked to add to his five goals this season with a snapshot from the edge of the box that went just wide of the post.

At the other end Cerci raced away from Stefan Savic and forced Neto into a diving save low to his right, before seeing a cross deflected onto the top of the crossbar minutes later.

With two minutes to go before half-time the Viola had the best chance of the half as Cuadrado got to the by-line on the right and pulled it back for Valero who volleyed wide at the near post.

Fiorentina began the second-half on the front foot with a lovely move between Fernandez and Ilicic putting Valero in behind but his half-volley was blocked brilliantly by the excellent Kamil Glik.

Cerci was Torino’s biggest threat and he made space neatly for himself on the right but saw his shot pushed away by Neto.

Just after the hour-mark Barreto broke free down the left for Toro and fired a low shot across goal but Neto made a good save before collecting on the second attempt.

In the 76th minute Fernandez made space on the left and pulled the ball back to David Pizarro whose deflected cross-shot found its way towards substitute Oleksandr Yakovenko but he just couldn’t reach it and Padelli gratefully smothered.

Torino should have taken the lead when Cerci cut inside from the right and hit a terrific ball to the back post where the stretching Riccardo Meggiorini could only put it high and wide.

Fiorentina began to run out of ideas without their talisman Rossi and Torino comfortably held out for a draw.

Follow George Gibson on Twitter: @George_Gibson9

 

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