Fiorentina 5-2 Debrecen: La Viola Cruise To Victory in Goal Fest

Fiorentina picked up an early lead against Debrecen and cruised to a comfortable home win in both sides' fourth Champions League game of the group stage.

Fiorentina needed only five minutes to create the first chance after a superb move from Adrian Mutu. The Romanian forward dodged past a couple of players on the right before sending in a cross for Dario Dainelli, who only just missed the target with his header.

Mutu opened the score for La Viola 14 minutes into the game. Marco Marchionni broke forward and delivered a neat ball into the middle for Mutu, who sent a diving header into the net from eight yards out.

Hungarian international Gergely Rudolf mustered an immediate reply for the visitors, cutting inside from the right channel before shooting. However, his attempt was too weak to trouble Fiorentina goalie Vlada Avramov.

A collective error from the visiting defence allowed Mutu to pull the ball down on the edge of the area. The tricky attacker had space for a shot, but he was quickly closed down and his effort was blocked.

Dainelli held back Rudolf in a dangerous area around the half hour mark and Zsolt Laczko was caught in front of the center after the free kick. The midfielder tried to flick the ball with a backheel, but his audacious effort dropped wide.

Alberto Gilardino came close to doubling Fiorentina’s lead after 34 minutes. Left winger Juan Vargas sent in a dangerous cross from a corner kick and the former Milan man beat his marker to the ball before heading it goalwards. Nevertheless, his header clipped the bar and went over.

The guests drew things level from out of nowhere in the 37th minute. Peter Czvitkovics went by his opponent on the left wing before curling in a perfect cross for Rudolf, who slid in at the back post to slot the ball into the far corner.

Fiorentina were not too impressed with the equalizer and Mutu immediately flicked a square pass to Gilardino, who powerfully flicked goalward. However, Djordje Pantic pulled off a great save to deny the Italian international.

The Italians started the second half brilliantly and Gilardino got a good chance to restore his side’s lead after 47 minutes. Manuel Pasqual did well to center and Gilardino controlled the ball superbly, but he shot powerfully wide from the penalty spot.


One minute later, it was Mutu who caused the Debrecen defense all kinds of trouble. Great interplay on the edge of the box created space for the Romanian, who tested Pantic with a good shot. The Debrecen goalie was up for the task though and made a nice save.

La Viola made it 2-1 about 10 minutes after the interval following an error from the Debrecen glovesman. Pantic rushed off his line to collect a cross from Gianluca Comotto, but Dainelli beat him to the ball and headed into the empty net.

The Tuscans kept on dominating after Dainelli’s goal and substitute Riccardo Montolivo made it three for Fiorentina at the hour mark. Vargas broke down the left and whipped in a perfect cross for the gifted midfielder, who slotted home with ease.

Things got even worse for the Hungarians only one minute later. Gilardino set up right winger Marchionni with a superb through pass and the attacker beat Pantic with a subtle finish to make it 4-1 after 61 minutes of play.

Adamo Coulibaly could have pegged one back for Debrecen midway through the second half, but the French attacker’s right footed strike lacked the power to trouble Abramov, who blocked the shot without too much trouble.

Coulibaly was more successful with 20 minutes left in the encounter. Peter Szakaly sent in a pin-point cross for the strong forward and Coulibaly had no trouble aiming his header on target and beating Avramov. 

Gilardino restored Fiorentina's three-goal lead only five minutes later. Vargas swung in a superb cross from the right wing and the prolific hitman was left totally unmarked to add his name to the scoresheet with an excellent header.

Debrecen did not give up just like that and Coulibaly and Czvitkovics kept on pushing for another Hungarian goal. They both failed to get their shots on target though and the Magyars had to settle for a heavy 5-2 away loss.

Stefan Coerts, Goal.com

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