So many goals in so little time.
That would best describe the two matches played between Fiorentina and Hellas Verona this season, as both sides did their best to erase the defensive stereotypes associated with Italian football.
After playing out to a 4-3 thriller way back on December 2, the two sides once again produced enough goals to have Nereo Rocco turning in his slumber.
The two sides outdid themselves and produced a total of nine goals between them at the Stadio Bentegodi last Sunday as the Viola prevailed 5-3 in a match that will likely make the lists for one of the best matches of the season.
It was a match that Alberto Aquilani will likely remember for some time to come as he did his best to show Italy coach Cesare Prandelli why he should be one of the players on the plane to Brazil this summer for the World Cup.
Did Alberto Aquilani’s performance against Hellas Verona book his ticket to the World Cup this summer?
The former Roma man put together one of his best performances of the season as he scored two goals to increase his season tally to six on the season.
Along with that, he combined excellently with David Pizarro and the magisterial Borja Valero to really dictate the tempo of the match.
While his midfield partners lead the Viola’s in terms of passes attempted during the match (Pizarro with 104, Valero with 73, Aquilani with 57), the Italian made his passes count by completing 95% of his attempts in what was a complete performance.
With Cesare Prandelli naming a 42 man roster to Coverciano for physical tests as he looks to trim down his list of who will be making the trip to South America, Aquilani certainly did his best to stand out.
While there are still several matches remaining in the season, it must be said that Aquilani has done a lot to make himself known to the Azzurri coach despite not having the best of reputations amongst fans of the national team.
Even the much maligned Alessandro Matri got his name on the scoresheet against Verona.
With Giuseppe Rossi still a question mark due to his physical condition, Viola fans will be putting their support behind Aquilani in hopes that the talented midfielder can continue his rich vein of form in order to be on that plane to Rio.
Sunday’s match also brought another much maligned Italian to the forefront, though it’s likely that his chances of playing for Italy this summer are slim to none.
Alessandro Matri came on for a quiet Ryder Matos in the 68th minute and while he didn’t set the world on fire, he did help his name by scoring a penalty in the 83rd minute that looked to have settled the match.
While it appears as though the on-loan striker is set to be shipped back to AC Milan this summer, the Viola will need his input for the remainder of the season as they look to hold off Inter (and several others) for fourth place while Rossi and Mario Gomez remain sidelined.
The goals have seemingly convinced coach Vincenzo Montella as Matri is set to start in Saturday’s big match against Roma. Hopefully the show of faith from the tactician will push Matri to build off his previous performance as the Viola will be playing the best defence in the league.
Montella will be taking on the side where he made a name for himself as a player and where he got his start as a coach, meaning he will no doubt be looking for his side to put on a stellar performance in front of the Stadio Artemio Franchi faithful.
With Aquilani and several of his teammates looking to be on that plane to the World Cup this summer, L’Aeroplanino will be hoping that his players use that motivation in their attempts to nail down an important three points in their bid to cement fourth place.
Follow Adriano Boin on Twitter: @Boin44
