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Fiorentina 0 - 0 Roma
Stadio Franchi
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Fiorentina played in 10 men for an hour, but still went close to beating Roma, who fall 18 points adrift of leaders Inter. It's the first home game since Cesare Prandelli took charge in which the Viola have failed to score.
Last season this was a head to head play-off for a Champions League spot and despite the Viola's 15-point Calciopoli penalty, little has really changed. Marco Donadel was out of action, while the Giallorossi had Alberto Aquilani and Cristian Chivu injured. Roma were looking for their first Serie A away win of 2007 and had not lost at the Stadio Franchi since April 2001.
Only Fiorentina season ticket holders were allowed into the game due to the Stadio Franchi's failure to adhere to strict new security standards. Simone Perrotta was at full stretch, just missing the target from Rodrigo Taddei's cross. There were timid penalty appeals for a Matteo Ferrari handling offence.
Roma had the first real chance when Sebastien Frey parried a Francesco Totti long-range strike and Perrotta's follow-up from six yards.
Totti has never scored in Florence and he went very close on 17 minutes, as Amantino Mancini's intelligent cutback allowed him to spring the offside trap, but the shot from eight yards skimmed the upright.
Moments later at the other end Luca Toni flicked the ball just wide following a splendid Adrian Mutu dummy, then Mancini's right-foot strike was turned out for a corner as it was end to end stuff.
Roma lost the ball in midfield and the Viola almost struck on the counter with Mutu setting up Toni, but Frey - marking his birthday - flew to fingertip a Perrotta header out from under the bar.
The game changed on 34 minutes, as Fiorentina captain Dario Dainelli received his second yellow card for a late tackle from behind on Totti, leaving his team in 10 men. Cesare Prandelli made big changes, throwing on Potenza and Manuele Blasi for Fabio Liverani and Martin Jorgensen.
Mancini hit the back of the net only for the offside flag to be raised, but Frey was in spectacular form, using an outstretched foot to deny Perrotta's point-blank finish after fine build-up from Totti and Taddei.
After the break Alexander Doni had to parry Toni's strike at the near post. In fact, 10-man Fiorentina were unlucky not to take the lead, as Manuel Pasqual's free kick curled over the wall and ended its journey on the near upright with Doni rooted to the spot.
Oddly, Roma seemed to take a very long time to get going in the second half, as the Viola were taking control. Yet on 58 minutes Mancini sprung the offside trap and chested down to hit the side-netting.
Frey performed another great save on Totti's fierce snapshot from 20 metres, then soon after he stuck out his leg to stop a David Pizarro free kick floating past everyone into the far corner.
The Giallorossi were now dominating and Totti's angled drive shaved a coat of paint off the far post.
Fiorentina did not give in and in stoppages Francesco Tavano had to improvise as a defender to clear a very dangerous free kick.
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Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini, Pasqual; Pazienza, Liverani (Potenza 37), Montolivo; Jorgensen (Blasi 36), Toni (Reginaldo 84), Mutu
Roma: Doni; Panucci, Ferrari, Mexes, Tonetto; De Rossi, Pizarro; Taddei (Wilhelmsson 76), Perrotta (Vucinic 81), Mancini (Tavano 71); Totti
Ref: Paparesta
Sent off: Dainelli 34 (F)