Fiorentina’s miserable form away from the home comforts of the Artemio Franchi continued this week, as second half goals from Bologna’s Marco Motta and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos cancelled out Adem Ljajic’s opener and sent Vincenzo Montella’s men home with plenty to think about.
It was the Viola’s fourth consecutive defeat on the road, and the seventh time in 13 attempts this season that they have failed to pick up any points away from home.
Meanwhile, just three of Fiorentina’s 12 league wins so far this season have come away from the Artemio Franchi, two of which came against sides currently mired in the bottom four, Palermo and Genoa, with the other coming against an AC Milan side wearied by a difficult Champions League tie with Malaga days earlier.
Such home sickness is by no means a new precedent. Last season, the Viola managed just four wins on the road, two of which were against sides relegated at the end of the season, Novara and Lecce.
A first victory over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico for over 20 years meanwhile came against a side in the final throes of the Luis Enrique era, while another shock victory over Milan at the San Siro was achieved against a side nursing the wounds of a Champions League drubbing at the hands of Barcelona in the Nou Camp.
In the eight full seasons since Serie A expanded to a 20 team competition, the average points recorded away from home by the side ultimately finishing third in the table – and therefore what is currently the final Champions League berth – stands at 29.
The Viola’s away points tally for this season currently stands at 12, meaning that Montella’s side would need to win each of their remaining six away games in order to acquire the points traditionally needed of a side finishing in third.
The problem is glaringly obvious. For an upwardly mobile club that has clear intentions of returning to European football’s elite competition after a three year hiatus, Fiorentina are simply not winning enough games away from home at present.
It is an issue that is difficult to account for. How can a side that so ruthlessly pulled apart Champions League chasing rivals Inter at the Artemio Franchi one weekend meekly go on to capitulate away to a Bologna side that had won just four times at home all season the next?
The two day postponement made necessary by heavy snow will not have helped, while the absence of star midfielder David Pizarro was a blow to the Viola’s usual midfield fluidity. But having established a lead during a promising first half performance, individual lapses in concentration at both ends of the field ultimately proved costly, as was noted by Montella.
“[Bologna’s] goals came from mistakes, which were small but consecutive, and that is not good enough for a team that wants to aim high”, the coach told the gathered press in the aftermath of the game.
“We always want to give our best, but we have to understand whether this is really our best. We are creating a new mentality, but that shouldn’t take responsibility off our shoulders. The lads show they have quality, but they lack consistency.
“A victory tonight would have meant a great deal, but now we have to get back on track. It will take time to form a winning mentality, but tonight it is only to be expected we go to bed feeling bitter.”
It is refreshing to hear Montella speak candidly about the limitations of his side, something he has not always been quick to do this season, and it is to be hoped that the new ‘mentality’ that is being created includes instilling the belief that this squad is more than capable of travelling to the likes of Bologna, Catania, Udine and Parma, and returning home with all three points.
Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevertonFC_84
