Fiorentina

Strikers, we all know, live for goals. You can talk all you like about good movement and helping the team, but they will always be judged on putting the ball in the net. It has been a tough time in that regard for Fiorentina forward Alberto Gilardino.

He broke his Italy goal drought against lowly Faroe Islands last week, but his club level woes continue. His last strike for the Viola came in March, and he has choked on a couple of decent chances already this season. It has not helped a team which has gathered just one point from its opening two Serie A fixtures.

"Don't worry, a goal will come," he has told the media, and no doubt he is right. History has shown that the boy from Biella rarely goes too long without hitting the target. The trouble for Fiorentina is that there is nobody to share the burden when he suffers a bad spell.

The Tuscan side seem to be paying the price for a low-key transfer campaign. Just two outfield players came in—Gaetano D'Agostino and Alessio Cerci—neither of them prolific scorers. It has put a lot of weight on Gila's shoulders.

Injury to Stevan Jovetic has also had a big impact on the Florentines. This was going to be his breakthrough season where he confirmed on a regular basis all the good things he had shown to the world in the Champions League. Instead, he will spend it on the sidelines.

Adrian Mutu is kicking his heels for a different reason with a drugs ban seeing him out of action until the end of October. It leaves youngster Khouma El Babacar as the only other recognised striker at Sinisa Mihajlovic's disposal.

On the evidence of the first couple of weeks, it is simply not enough.

Gilardino teed up D'Agostino for a goal in Fiorentina's opening fixture and the Viola had a strike disallowed in their second game which should have stood. Apart from that, however, they have not troubled opposition goalkeepers enough.

Their main front man has to carry his share of the blame, but there is no doubt he would benefit from someone helping to ease the pressure. He has a while to wait for Mutu and none of the other options playing in the "hole" behind him has truly convinced.

D'Agostino has looked a little too predictable and youngster Adem Ljajic still has a lot to learn. It has often left Gilardino, in striker's parlance, feeding on scraps.

The absence of Juan Manuel Vargas at the weekend through suspension did not help but these are still worrying times for the Viola. They needed to hit the ground running with a new coach but instead they have stumbled. A home tie against Lazio this weekend, a side their new boss has strong links with, already looks like a vital clash.

Defeat would seriously redesign the ambitions for the campaign ahead at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Fiorentina believed they had a squad capable of bouncing back into European football but the early evidence is clearly to the contrary.

Gilardino's goalscoring problems appear to be a symptom of wider problems at the club. Their form dropped off dreadfully last season after controversial elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich. The shortcomings they showed at the tail end of last term have continued in this campaign.

The club desperately need their flagship hitman in red-hot form. Much-maligned by Milan fans, Gilardino remains one of the best goalscorers in Italy and one of the most prolific Serie A marksman currently operating in the division. Only Francesco Totti, Alex Del Piero, Pippo Inzaghi, and Hernan Crespo boast more goals than Il Gila—and he has something of an age advantage on all of them.

He needs service and support, however, and that has been lacking of late. A goal might just be the tonic that puts him back on the path towards another 20-strike season. Viola fans will be praying it arrives this weekend.

It's only newspaper talk, of course, and it's to be taken with a bigger pinch of salt than the cooking water for your spaghetti. But in the quiet weeks before domestic league football returns it helps to fuel supporters' dreams. Could Giuseppe Rossi really end up at Fiorentina?

The Italo-American was one of the summer's big talking points when he missed the cut for Marcello Lippi's World Cup squad. Like all the players left behind, his reputation was only enhanced by the Azzurri's disastrous display. How they missed his magic.

He had been one of Italy's few bright spots at the Confederations Cup in South Africa a year ago and many thought he deserved a chance to shine again. Unfortunately, a tail-off in his form for club and country meant he got some unwanted time off in June.

Now comes the rumour that Fiorentina would like to see him in purple.

It's the latest name to emerge on the supposed wish-list for the Tuscan club in the post-Cesare Prandelli era. Dutch international Eljero Elia has also been mentioned as a Viola "dream." Little substance, probably, but enough to get calcio-starved fans excited.

A deal for Rossi could, however, be good for both club and player.

Fiorentina are currently involved in the protracted process of a divorce from drugs-banned Adrian Mutu. He can return to the game later this year, but the Tuscan side have already made it clear they want to sell him for the best deal they can. It would leave a Rossi-shaped hole in their attack.

The thought of the Villareal starlet sparkling alongside Stevan Jovetic or teaming up with Alberto Gilardino is a mouthwatering one. It could provide an attack capable of unlocking even the most stubborn Serie A defence.

The move could make sense for the player concerned too.

Rossi desperately needs to find a team where he will get regular first team football. It would also do his international prospects no harm to come back to Italy. Where better than the current Italy coach's old club?

Fiorentina would be just about the perfect place to take his career to the next level. None of the biggest clubs in Italy would give him the lead role his talents deserve, and the Viola have a good record in nurturing young players.

Nothing will probably come of the whole affair, of course, just a throwaway line destined to join the rest of the summer's transfer talk trash. But, in the meantime, let the Tifosi have their dream.

Every July or August seems to throw up a song of the summer in Italy. It is usually an infuriatingly catchy piece of Euro-pop that drifts from a jukebox across the still water of the swimming pool on a long, hot afternoon. Hear it once, hum it forever.

I am old enough to remember one particularly infuriating ditty entitled "Vamos a la Playa." It must have sprung forth some time in the 1980s, but more recently it was adopted by Fiorentina fans as the tune for their tribute to the club's coach.

Cesare Prandelli, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!

It did not take a lot to learn but for five years it was the soundtrack to Florentine Sundays. Now they will need to start singing to a different beat.

In the chop and change world of Italian football, Prandelli was its equivalent of Sir Alex. He helped to rebuild Fiorentina from a team which had only just bounced back from Serie C2.

In return, he received the fans' affection which helped him through the hard times of watching his beloved wife pass away. Only in the final days, as results went bad and he was courted by the national team, did that fan-coach relationship show signs of strain.

Now it is time to start again from scratch.

There is no doubt Sinisa Mihajlovic is a very different character from his predecessor. Anyone who remembers him from his playing days will be aware of that.

He was a spiky individual, never one to back down from standing toe-to-toe with an opponent. Most notable was his verbal run-in with Patrick Vieira and his European ban for spitting at Adrian Mutu—interestingly enough, a player now under his command.

There is also the small matter of his off-the-field acquaintances too. His friendship with the late Serbian paramilitary leader Arkan has been criticised in many quarters. It is hard to imagine Prandelli keeping such company.

However, it is easy to forget that Mihajlovic was also a talented footballer. In his younger days, he was a classy midfielder and became a strong sweeper in his later years. His power-packed free-kicks and corners were a threat throughout his career.

His coaching exploits have certainly started off encouragingly. A brief spell at Bologna did not produce many fireworks, but last season he turned Catania from relegation certainties into one of Italy's form sides.

If he can carry on that work in Florence, nobody will be looking too closely at his past. He is an up-and-coming tactician and motivator who deserves his chance with a bigger club.

The first signing, Gaetano D'Agostino, hints at some serious ambition to return the Viola to the Champions League positions.

There could never be another Cesare, so maybe the Tuscan club has done the right thing in appointing such a radically different boss. A late-season slump showed they needed to be shaken up a bit.

Mihajlovic deserves a bit of time to make his own mark after stepping into the managerial moccasins of such a revered individual. A Roberto Mancini-style looped scarf looks likely to replace the purple puffer jacket favored by his predecessor. Many other more important matters are also set to change.

That's no bad thing after a season of highs and lows for the Viola. The Serbian might just be the man to set them back towards the top end of the table.

And then the fans will surely find a new chant in which to incorporate his name.

Sometimes it is okay to admit you don't know how you feel.

No doubt Chelsea, Inter, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich fans are elated at the moment. While followers of Hull City, Atalanta, and the likes are almost certainly feeling down in the dumps. But for Fiorentina supporters, maybe it is alright to have mixed emotions.

A look at the final Serie A table brings only misery. There were more defeats than victories this year, which was a big step backwards from recent top four performances. The Coppa Italia, too, failed to provide any consolation.

And yet, the memories of the Champions League still provide a little glow.

There were some of the greatest nights ever at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and further afield. On top form, this team was capable of standing toe-to-toe with the best in Europe, producing some sparkling football and getting results.

If it hadn't been for a ridiculous offside goal against Bayern, who knows what might have been?

That thought, however, can only console the club for so long and a dismal conclusion to the league has raised more pressing concerns. Who will be leaving the club in the summer and what new arrivals might land in Florence? The side seems to be at a key stage in its evolution.

Fiorentina will never be able to compete financially with the European giants. They will always have to hope to catch young talent on its way up or try to revive stars who have started to fade. And, unfortunately, they will always see some heroes leave every summer.

Top of everyone's shopping list seems to be Juan Manuel Vargas. His thrilling displays in the Champions League caught everyone's eye, Real Madrid in particular.

If the price is right, he will go.

Coach Cesare Prandelli is also at the heart of the rumor mill. It seems the Italy job is most likely, with Juventus still a possibility. For the best interests of the club, a decision needs to be made soon on that front.

Stevan Jovetic, too, and Sebastien Frey, have had their suitors. In an ideal world it would be best to cling on to the young Montenegrin for at least another season. But are the Viola in a position to do so? And should they try to cash in on their goalkeeper before his powers fade?

Everyone at the club protests that this is not the end of an era but it is hard to escape the feeling that it is. Something snapped inside Fiorentina after their Champions League and Coppa Italia eliminations and it will be hard to repair. The squad is still strong, but somewhere the winning attitude went west.

It might need a few changes to bring that back again. There is still the core of a good team there but it will need some work if a top four finish is to seem anything other than a distant memory.

However, there might be hope from the fact that the Viola finished out of Europe altogether. They will be able to focus their attention on Serie A without the distraction of so many midweek games. It might just get them back on track.

It is a time of transition in Florence, of that there is little doubt. A clearer picture of the future is likely to emerge in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, all supporters can do is watch and wait to see what new Fiorentina emerges.

Hopefully, it will be the one which thrilled everyone in the Champions League and not its pale imitation from Serie A.

The famous 21st Century philosopher Britney Spears once provocatively asked: “Do you want a piece of me?”

It is a question which must have echoed loudly in the thoughts of Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu in recent times. If he wasn't paranoid at the start of the season, he surely must be by now. Everyone, it seems, is out to get him.

There can be few players in the world being pursued by both their current and a former club for financial compensation for off-the-field misdemeanours. Little wonder he has a furrowed brow whenever he appears in the glare of a photographer's flashbulb of late. This is a man whose footballing career is on the brink of extinction. 

The Romanian international has mixed glorious goals with moments of shame throughout his playing days. He was given a second chance after his first disaster. The puzzle for the Tuscan club is whether it is worth giving him another opportunity to redeem himself. Or should they simply wash their hands of him and let someone else take that risk?

For anyone who has missed the story so far it has all the makings of a film plot. As a gifted young striker he soared to the top of the game at big-spending Chelsea only to throw it all away when he tested positive for cocaine use and got banned. The London club ditched him quickly and is still pursuing him for about 17 million euros for a breach of contract.

Juventus were first to spot an opportunity and snapped him up while he was still suspended. He performed well enough for the Bianconeri but it was Cesare Prandelli at Fiorentina who recognised a real chance for redemption. The pair had worked well together at Parma in the past and it panned out wonderfully once again.

His rehabilitation was complete.

Mutu became a hero at the Artemio Franchi and seemed to have put his troubled times behind him. The club stood beside him during the legal battle with Chelsea, he repaid them with goals that took them into the Champions League. They even rebuffed a multi-million pound bid from Roma for the player. He looked destined to go down in the Florentine Hall of Fame.

But then the news came through of his failure of another drug test. This time for sibutramine, a slimming drug. He was ultimately banned for nine months, prompting Fiorentina to seek a reduction in his wages from the date the ban was confirmed. That process is currently ongoing.

It looks like the Viola have run out of patience with their errant star. He can return to the game in October this year but who would want such damaged goods? He is still a talented footballer and at 31 has a few seasons left in him. But will he have the mental strength to recover from this latest blow?

His offences have not been of the most serious kind, you could argue. The first was for a recreational drug while the second was only at the outer-limits of performance enhancement. And yet you do have to question the mindset of a man who could make such a silly mistake.

He hurt himself, his club, and his fans in the process.

The talk in Florence is that they will look to move him on in the summer. A cut-price deal of three or four million euros might clinch his signing. It would be sad never to see him in purple again but, equally, you could hardly blame the club.

Some stars just seem to have a habit of self-harming. When he was on the ball, Mutu was one of Serie A’s most graceful and clinical strikers. There is no doubt he was a key player in putting Fiorentina into the Champions League and they missed him dreadfully in their knockout clash with Bayern Munich. But he does seem to get into trouble on a regular basis.

It is that reputation which any prospective purchaser will have to deal with. They will get a talented player but one with his flaws written large across the sporting courts of Europe.

Somebody will surely be willing to take the gamble. The upside is potentially great from a player whose stock has never been so low. But, for those who have followed his career closely, there will always be a nagging doubt. When might he make his third, and surely final, major mistake?

In terms of prestige, it is pretty much accepted that the Coppa Italia ranks somewhere between the European tiddliwinks championship, and the World conkers title.

It is almost always compared very unfavourably with its English equivalent, the FA Cup. Crowds are small, most big teams field undermanned sides, and you can count the number of shocks on the prongs of your pizza fork.

Poor scheduling, two-legged ties, and an often cumbersome seeding system, have never really given the competition a chance. It is in need of the kind of emergency makeover that could even kill the undying enthusiasm of Ty Pennington. It needs demolition and complete reconstruction.

This week, however, it has thrown up one of its more intriguing ties. The reason, quite simply, is that it means quite a lot to one of the participants, and not very much to the other.

So all of the elements are there for an exciting semi-final clash between Fiorentina and Inter.

The reigning league champions won the first leg by a single goal in the San Siro, but a packed Stadio Artemio Franchi will be hoping the Viola can turn the tie around on Tuesday. They warmed up with a thrilling 2-2 draw when they met in the league on Saturday.

Cesare Prandelli shocked a few pundits by fielding an apparently weakened side for that game. The Tuscan team has little hope of finishing in a top four spot in Serie A, and getting back into the Champions League. He seemed to favour the cup clash.

That might seem puzzling given the lack of stature of the Coppa, but look a little closer and it starts to make more sense. Fiorentina have a strong tradition in the tournament with six victories to their credit. More importantly, their coach has yet to win a trophy with this side.

Praise for their fine performances in Serie A and Europe has been nice, but there is really no substitute for a bit of silverware.

Up north in Milan, however, the TIM Cup (to give it its sponsor's name) is a less welcome distraction. Jose Mourinho's side are still in the hunt for the league and Champions League. There is little doubt this is the least attractive leg of their potential treble.

Yet they would be well advised not to snub the competition too much. Imagine how they might feel if they went out to Fiorentina and then missed out on their other two goals? Bad results can be contagious, and the cup would at least be a small consolation if everything else goes wrong.

The Milanese, of course, have a squad designed to cope with such situations. Even their reserve side is one which most Serie A managers would love to have at their disposal. Defending a single goal lead should not be beyond them.

Even with Dejan Stankovic, Davide Santon and usual Coppa goalkeeper Francesco Toldo missing, there is a formidable look to the Inter team. Fringe players like Marco Materazzi, Macdonald Mariga, and the recently rehabilitated Mario Balotelli will all hope they get a chance to shine. There may even be room for young talent like Rene Krhin and Marko Artaunovic.

Fiorentina hope to respond with a trio of important returns. Cristiano Zanetti, Marco Marchionni, and Juan Manuel Vargas are all likely to reappear after missing the weekend clash.

The match comes, of course, at an unwelcome time for Inter. They face Juve in the league on Friday, and Barcelona in the Champions League after that. This may just trip them up.

Mourinho will not be too worried about elimination if his side can secure at least one of its other seasonal targets. For Fiorentina, a final spot against either Roma or Udinese would be a major consolation for European and Serie A heartache.

The script should be that the game matters so much to the Viola that they grab the victory they need. But since when has football ever followed any kind of logic?

Every cycle, we know, must come to an end.

Even Sir Alex will eventually shuffle off from Old Trafford although you get the feeling he might have to be forcibly removed.

There has been much speculation that Fiorentina's controversial European elimination by Bayern Munich could be the end of an era.

Cesare Prandelli has performed wonders at the club.

In his time at the Viola he has taken them from a team which could barely survive in Serie A to Champions League contenders.

Along the way his side has produced some sparkling football, unearthed new talent, and regenerated key players who seemed to have lost their way.

A pretty impressive result.

It has been the crowning glory of a managerial career which has brought him affection and respect wherever he has been employed.

The question is: has he done all he can at Fiorentina?

Viola fans would argue that there are still a few landmarks to be achieved.

The biggest gap in the Prandelli era is the lack of a trophy to put on display. That is why the Coppa Italia has assumed enormous importance this season.

With the Florentines struggling for league points and now eliminated from Europe, it is the only way to make sense of a crazy campaign.

Some of Fiorentina's best games this year have been in defeat.

In the medium to long-term, owners Andrea and Diego Della Valle would like to see the team compete for a much-coveted third Scudetto.

It would be even sweeter if Cesare was in charge.

However, every manager comes to a point where they feel they can take a team no further.

Only Prandelli will know if that time is now.

Whatever he decides he will always be revered in the Renaissance city for his class, composure, and occasionally dodgy fashion sense.

The Italy job would surely be an appealing prospect for both the coach and the football federation.

Prandelli has done a grand tour on the club circuit and the international game would be a fresh challenge.

He would get to work with many players he knows already and also have the opportunity to put two of his greatest qualities to work—nurturing young talent and revitalising older stars have been the hallmarks of his career.

After the second reign of Marcello Lippi and the forgetful Roberto Donadoni age, his appointment would make perfect sense.

The case for the Juve post is less clear and that is not just the natural anti-Bianconero reaction of a Viola supporter.

Prandelli has worked well at smaller clubs where the expectation level is less and there is time to work your magic.

There is nobody better at sticking to a budget and getting the best out of what is at his disposal.

At Juventus he would face a very different challenge.

Money is less of an issue in Turin than at other Italian clubs but, as Ciro Ferrara can attest, they expect a lot for their investment.

Certainly, Prandelli could rekindle old magic with Felipe Melo and Giorgio Chiellini.

And he would probably try to bring a few old friends with him from Florence.

The likes of Juan Vargas, Stevan Jovetic, and a fully fit Alessandro Gamberini would sit nicely in the Juve squad.

But would he be given time to produce the goods?

Prandelli is a nurturing manager who likes to develop players over time and bring them through gradually. Witness the slow explosion of Vargas or the dosing out of Jovetic's skills.

In Turin they expect their signings to deliver straight away—go ask Diego.

Of course, the boss from Orzinuovi is perfectly capable of being a resounding triumph at Juve.

He is a first-class manager and deserves to take charge of one of our biggest clubs.

In addition, his history in black-and-white as a player gives an emotional attachment to La Vecchia Signora.

These will all be issues flashing through Prandelli's mind.

In homes around the River Arno everybody will be hoping his final decision is to stay at a club which has come to fit him like one of his purple puffer jackets.

The bench will seem empty when he goes.

And with all respect to his rumoured replacements, like Gigi Del Neri and Max Allegri, none of them seem worthy of filling his tight-fitting polo neck.

Life changes, of course, and fans must move on and adapt.

But that doesn't mean you don't try to cherish what you possess and, from time to time, look back at what you have lost with a little regret.

Fiorentina exceeded all expectations as they cruised their way through the group stages facing Lyon, Liverpool and Debreceni. Coming into the first knock out round where they were drawn alongside Bayern Munich, Cesare Prandelli’s men were—despite their previous impressive performances—once again labeled underdogs.

The first fixture with the Bavarians couldn’t have come at a worse time considering the poor form the Viola were showcasing, having collected only a single point from their five latest league outings. On top of that they were dealing with both injuries and Adrian Mutu’s suspension due to a failed drug test.

Arjen Robben broke the deadlock from the penalty spot at the Allianz Arena after Franck Ribery had fallen under pressure from Per Kroldrup right before the interval. The Dane made amends five minutes into the second half as he slotted home from five yards following a Marco Marchionni corner kick—getting Viola back into the game.

Controversy struck on 72 minutes as Massimo Gobbi was flashed a straight red card after his arm accidentally caught Robben in the chest.

Things were to get worse in the dying minutes of the game as referee Tom Henning Ovrebro allowed Miroslav Klose to make it 2-1 despite standing close to six yards offside—and all but crushing the Viola’s dream of making club history by progressing into the quarter finals of the tournament.

Fiorentina was furious with the refereeing but instead of moaning about it despite clearly deserving better after their inspiring performance, both coach and players quickly accepted the defeat. Instead, the club vowed to turn their anger and frustration into focus and determination in the return leg.

Ahead of the decisive return fixture, Alberto Gilardino encouraged the Viola-supporters to unleash all hell at the Artemio Franchi. The home supporters heeded their top scorer’s advice as a deafening whistle storm followed every time a Bayern player touched the ball.

Prandelli lined up with the same 4-2-3-1 formation from the first leg at the Allianz Arena with Cristiano Zanetti replacing Mario Balotti and Felipe instead of the suspended Gobbi.

Just as in the first fixture, Bayern controlled the game early on with Fiorentina concentrating mostly on closing down the spaces.

Both teams were struggling due to the strong winds and were having troubles entering the final third. But at 27 minutes, Juan Manuel Vargas opened the scoring after goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt spilled the ball directly into the path of the Peruvian.

Just as Bayern were hitting their stride, Marchionni’s cross found Alberto Gilardino who passed the ball onto Stevan Jovetic’s path with a stunning backheel, allowing the young Montenegrin to slot the ball into the net from close range, making it 2-0.

Having fallen two goals behind the Bavarians finally reacted. On the hour mark, Ribery waltzed his way past three Viola players and passed the ball to Mark van Bommel who fired off a low drive just inside Sebastian Frey’s right post.

Four minutes later Jovetic scored his second goal of the evening after catching the Bayern defense off guard, making the scoreboard read 3-1.

However, 72 seconds later, a frustrated Robben took matters into his own hands as the Dutchman’s impressively accurate long range effort curled into the upper-left corner of the net, making it 3-2, thus turning the score into the favor of the visiting side.

Fiorentina reacted well after Robben’s goal, however, Louis van Gaal’s men played deep in order to avoid making any more defensive errors. With the game ending 4-4 on aggregate, the Bavarians advanced to the quarterfinals with the smallest of margins, going through on the rule of away goals.

It was a pulsating night at the Artemio Franchi that will long in the memory of the Fiorentina faithful. Although the 3-2 victory wasn’t enough to book a place in the quarterfinals, the Viola players can leave the competition with their heads held high after the incredible fight they put up over the course of the two-legged encounter.

Batigol, Baggio, and Antognoni, we need your spirit now.

A prayer to Fiorentina's Holy Trinity of the past three decades is in order, as the current side embarks on its mission to eliminate Bayern Munich.

It will take a performance of pride, passion, and perfection to get the right result.

The Viola were robbed of a draw in the first leg by a ridiculous officiating error.

They have to put that behind them.

Instead, they need all the focus and concentration they can muster if they are to beat a side sitting top of the Bundesliga.

From Gabriel Omar Batistuta, we must take courage.

"A warrior never defeated, loyal in spirit and in battle" was how they described him in his heyday at the Artemio Franchi.

Remember how he bounced defenders out of his way before thumping the ball home into the net?

That kind of bravery is needed to progress in the Champions League.

I can see echoes of Batigol in the thundering boots of another South American star.

Juan Manuel Vargas—he even has three names as well. A different position, sure, but the same fighting attitude, impressive physique and power-packed shot.

From Roby Baggio, we must take unpredictable genius.

It will probably take a moment of magic to break down the German defence.

The Viola have no shortage of inventive players, but none more so than Stevan Jovetic. He seems to save his best for European nights so hopefully that trend can continue. The young Montenegrin has the pace, skill and technique to trouble an occasionally clumsy Bayern defence.

From Giancarlo Antognoni, we must take tactical perfection.

He played watching the stars, his first touch was so good that he was always at least a page ahead of the opposition. He could give shape to any side.

Fiorentina will need to keep their formation throughout their battle with Louis van Gaal's side.

Vision, precision, and quality will be the order of the day.

It's not much to ask, is it?

If the Viola can live up to the greats of years gone by, they will deserve their own place in the hall of fame.

Despite recent setbacks, they can go into the game with their heads held high.

They have already brought honour to the city of Florence. It is time to try to go one step further.

Inter-city rivalries can be just as bitter as any local derby.

They seem to contain a dash more venom because they are not based purely on geography.

Back in the 1980s the clashes between Milan and Napoli were among the most gripping spectacles in Serie A. In more recent times, there have been few fixtures with nastier aftermaths than Roma’s encounters with Inter.

However, the mother and father of all long-distance feuds remains Fiorentina against Juventus. It has a history that goes back decades.

In the formative years of their club, Florentine fans used to get irate at the number of people from other parts of Tuscany who would travel to the Renaissance city to support the Bianconeri.

Then, in 1982, that simmering distaste went through the roof.

Juve and Fiorentina were locked in a neck-and-neck battle for most of the season,  which went down to the final day. The Viola were in pursuit of a rare third Scudetto, and La Vecchia Signora wanted a 20th crown in order to stitch a second star to her triumphant shirt.

Both teams were level on points as the Tuscan side prepared to travel to Sardinia to take on Cagliari, while the Turin troops headed to Catanzaro.

What unfolded still makes Fiorentina fans livid.

They had a second-half goal disallowed and could not get beyond a 0-0 scoreline, while Liam Brady converted a penalty to give Juve their victory.

Those decisions infuriated the Viola and still do to this day.

“Meglio secondi che ladri,” they said. “Better to be second than to be thieves.”

It signalled a bitter twist in relations between the two clubs, which hit another peak nearly a decade later.

Roberto Baggio was Fiorentina’s golden boy, but it became increasingly clear the club’s owners—the Pontello family—were keen to cash in on their prize asset.

When his destination became clear, all hell broke loose. Turmoil erupted on the banks of the Arno and fans laid siege to the club’s headquarters.

In the meantime, Juve were edging out Fiorentina in a UEFA Cup final filled with animosity.

The Baggio transfer to the Bianconeri went through, but it had an interesting epilogue.

When the Turin side travelled to Florence for their first clash after the deal, they came under a heavy police escort.

In the game, Juve were awarded a penalty, which Baggio declined to take.

Up stepped Gigi De Agostini, who failed to convert, and the Divine Ponytail was later substituted, leaving the pitch with a Fiorentina scarf around his neck.

Many Juventini never forgave him.

For much of the 1990s, it became the only game that mattered to the Viola. Even a depressing league campaign could be made more bearable by beating the Gobbi (the Hunchbacks).

As for Juve, they were probably too busy winning domestic and European titles to worry much about the boys in purple, but the Viola still remained an annoying kid brother they constantly had to put in place.

Recent seasons have seen a constant to and fro of players between the clubs which has eased some of the conflict. Of the current sides, Juve players Felipe Melo and Giorgio Chiellini both boast a Viola past.

Marco Marchionni, Cristiano Zanetti, the long-suspended Adrian Mutu and coach Cesare Prandelli are among the Fiorentini with Juve history.

But that does not mean this Saturday’s clash will be friendly. You only had to listen to the anti-Viola chants from Juve supporters at the weekend to understand that.

Both sides have had their disappointments in Serie A and could give their season fresh impetus with victory.

Alberto Zaccheroni still harbours hopes of a Champions League finish despite a disappointing display against Palermo.

Fiorentina would love a tonic before facing their make-or-break tie with Bayern Munich in Europe.

The gloves will be off in the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

History tells us the build-up and aftermath are likely to be as gripping as anything which might take place out on the pitch.

Especially if Alex Del Piero takes a flying leap to win a controversial last-gasp penalty.