Points were shared at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi as Chievo drew 0-0 with Fiorentina on Saturday evening.
In a disappointing and dull first-half, neither side were able to open the scoring. The second-half was much more vibrant and enjoyable but yet again neither side were able to seize the initiative.
The match began in unspectacular fashion, but the game awoke when Marcos Alonso’s whipped free-kick forced Albano Bizzarri into a solid save.
Matias Fernandez was next to try his luck with a fierce shot from range, but his effort flashed wide.
The Viola were in complete control and almost took the lead when Nenad Tomovic drove forward out of defence before laying the ball off to Nikola Kalinic on the edge of the penalty area, but the Croatian’s shot was saved expertly by Bizzarri.
After the interval, Chievo almost broke the deadlock when Sergio Pellissier found himself in acres of space in the penalty area, but the Italian could only fire his shot straight at Ciprian Tatarusanu.
Minutes later, Mauro Zarate’s vicious free-kick rebounded off the bar and fell to Alonso but the full-back fluffed his lines, blasting his shot over the bar from within the six-yard-box.
In the 58th minute Nicola Rigoni unleashed a wicked shot from 30 yards out but his stunning effort was denied by the post.
The Mussi Volanti created the next clear-cut chance when Valter Birsa slipped in Antonio Floro Flores into the penalty area but Tatarusanu rushed off his line to smother the former Udinese man’s poke goalwards.
In the 89th minute Floro Flores should have opened the scoring. Massimo Gobbi’s deep cross found the Italian who’s shot slipped under Tatarusanu, but the keeper was able to stop the ball on the goal line.
The result leaves Chievo in 8th place whilst Fiorentina remains fifth in the table.
