Nikola Kalinic bagged a brace with Khouma Babacar as Fiorentina swept Slovan Liberec aside 3-1.
Follow all the action as it happens from the four Italian sides in Europe on today’s LIVEBLOG.
Nikola Kalinic bagged a brace with Khouma Babacar as Fiorentina swept Slovan Liberec aside 3-1.
Follow all the action as it happens from the four Italian sides in Europe on today’s LIVEBLOG.
The Viola were still unbeaten in the Europa League, but in need of a boost after poor Serie A form and the struggle to get goals. Josip Ilicic was still struggling with an ankle injury, so Nikola Kalinic was paired with Khouma Babacar. Slovan Liberec had scored in the opening minute of both previous Europa ties this season, but still only had one point.
Kalinic ran on to a ball over the top only to have it smothered at his feet, but did open the scoring when letting a deflected long pass bounce and hitting the half-volley into the roof of the net.
Radim Breite had a shot charged down decisively by Ciprian Tatarusanu and on the counter Khouma Babacar aimed it straight at the opposition goalkeeper.
There was a double defensive error for the second goal, as defender and ‘keeper didn’t communicate on a Davide Astori long ball and allowed Kalinic to walk it into an empty net.
The hosts fought back and Ciprian Tatarusanu had to palm a Breite screamer out from under the bar on the stroke of half-time.
Tatarusanu spilled a Breite strike into the path of Coufal, who somehow turned the rebound wide.
Slovan Liberec did get back into the game, as Tatarusanu made an impressive flying save on Karafiat from a corner, but could do nothing on Sevcik’s follow-up.
The hosts began to pin Fiorentina back into their own half, pouring forward with Navratil unable to make the most of a terrible rush off his line from Tatarusanu, then the goalkeeper beat away a Breite free kick.
However, the Italians struck on the counter to secure the points, Cristian Tello rolling across the box for Babacar’s simple finish.
It was not Breite’s night and he clattered Gonzalo Rodriguez for a second bookable offence.
Slovan Liberec 1-3 Fiorentina
Kalinic 8, 24 (F), Sevcik 58 (L), Babacar 70 (F)
Slovan Liberec:Dubravka; Coufal, Hovorka, Karafiat, Sykora (Bartosak 68); Breite, Folprecht; Navratil (Bartl 72), Sevcik, Vuch; Komilichenko (Markovic 78)
Fiorentina:Tatarusanu, Tomovic, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Astori; Cristoforo (Bernardeschi 62), Badelj, Vecino, Borja Valero, Maxi Olivera; Kalinic (Tello 53), Babacar (Sanchez 79)
Ref: Gozubuyuk (NED)
Sent off: Breite 84 (L)