Fiorentina beat Guingamp 3-0 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the first group stage game of the Europa League on Thursday night.
Juan Vargas struck in the first half before goals from Juan Cuadrado and Federico Bernardeschi gave the Italians a comfortable 3-0 win over the French side who had secured direct qualification to the Europa League after winning their domestic league cup unexpectedly.
The Viola, who were missing Giuseppe Rossi and Marko Marin through injury, were on the back foot and the game started off with two quick corners for the French side before Jasmin Kurtic had the first shot of the game from outside the area.
Fiorentina gradually seized control of the game with David Pizarro pulling the strings from midfield and striker Mario Gomez had a goal ruled out for offside after a scramble in the box involving Vargas.
Stefan Savic made an important interception to prevent Sylvain Marveux going one-on-one as Guingamp tried to get back in the game after the host’s early domination.
Vargas headed wide after good work by Cuadrado but the Peruvian found the net on the 34 minute mark as he got on the end of Kurtic’s well worked a cross from the right which had missed Gomez but couldn’t evade the lurking winger who powered his header home.
Midfielder Mustapha Diallo was sent off for a second bookable offence minutes later after a late challenge on Pizarro was deemed to be a booking by and it was the proverbial deathblow for Guingamp who had more than 50 minutes left to play with ten men.
Borja Valero who had picked up a knock in the first half was replaced by Milan Badelj and Cuadrado had a good chance to secure the points shortly after the restart but he headed Pizarro’s pass just wide who’s cross a minute later was almost turned into his own net by Benjamin Angoua.
As Fiorentina piled on the pressure, they came close to doubling the lead through first Pizarro and then Cuadrado. Micah Richards came on to make his debut as he replaced Savic.
Mamadou Sambassa made a brilliant save to keep out Pizarro’s speculative effort and his counter-part Ciprian Tatasuranu himself made a fine save to keep out Claudio Beauvue from what was Guingamp’s only shot of the game.
But that was the last glimpse the French club got as Cuadrado finally did get on the score sheet after brilliantly controlling Pizarro’s excellent pass before finishing it in the far bottom corner.
The Colombian was substituted to a standing ovation and was replaced by Federico Bernardeschi for the final 20 minutes of what was going to be a comfortable victory.
Gomez had two good chances towards the end of the game but it was who notched up Fiorentina’s third goal on his European debut after spinning away from Leveque and finishing expertly into the far corner.
