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Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Wednesday, 30 Jul
Competition: ???label.competicio25???
Stadium: Artemio Franchi, Firenze

Resultat:

ACF Fiorentina: 1
FC Barcelona: 3

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

More info

THE GOALS

0-1, Puyol (min 28)
0-2, Jeffren (min 47)
1-2, Pazzini (min 68)
1-3, Bojan (min 72)

Another strong display (1-3)

Roger Bogunyà

Carles Puyol, Jeffren and Bojan Krkic all scored to give FC Barcelona their third successive victory of pre-season as they defeated Fiorentina in a testimonial for Artemio Franchi in the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

The host team put up stern resistance, but like Hibernian and Dundee United before them, they were unable to cope with the strong display of football that Pep Guardiola's side produced throughout the encounter. With a strong performance up front and a solid game by the Blaugrana back four la Viola were unable to produce many clear-cut chances.

Barcelona were also able to field Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta, Abidal and Sylvinho for he first time this season after the first three had an extended holiday and the other two had knocks.

Messi in the middle

Lionel Messi began the game as the central striker with Pedrito and Iniesta on either side of him, patrolling the flanks. Going forward in midfield, Xavi and Seydou Keita combined well to press and create openings and they ensured that Barça controlled proceedings.

Puyol paves the way

In the 14th minute Seydou took aim from distance while Xavi struck the woodwork five minutes later and Messi forced Sebastian Frey into a save soon after. The opening goal came fro a move that came straight from the training ground as Messi picked up a short pass and after jinking back to the edge of the area he sent a cross to the far post where Gerard Piqué controlled the ball and passed into the centre where Puyol was able to tap home from close range with 28 minutes on the clock.

Quick goal

After the break Martín Cáceres, Sylvinho, Busquets and Bojan came on to add to Jeffren who replaced Iniesta before the break when the playmaker took a blow on his right knee and had to go off. Those changes ensured that the visitors continued to apply the pressure and Jeffren netted a stunning second as he beat two defenders before placing the ball across the keeper and in to the far corner of the net in the 47th minute.

Pazzini pulls one back

After going two goals behind, Fiorentina came forward and enjoyed a sustained spell of success when playing on the break. It was through the route that the hosts netted their goal as Giampaolo Pazzini beat Víctor Valdés in the 68 minute.

Beyond doubt

For a few minutes, Barça's lead looked slim and vulnerable, but a third goal settled any nerves and showed the Bojan is looking sharp in pre-season. The young forward was picked out in the area by Vázquez and he beat two defenders before clipping the ball in via the far post with 18 minutes of the game remaining. It was a tremendous goal and put the result beyond doubt.

In the final minute of the game, Eidur Gudjohnsen had a chance to make it 4-1, but Marco Storari made a good stop.

Preview

Three official visits to Florence

FC Barcelona have a great record in the historic city of Florence. Their first visit was in the Fairs Cup of 1964/65, when they won 0-2. They didn’t return until 1996/97, when they won again, this time in the semi finals of the Cup Winners Cup, while their last visit was in the second round of the Champions League in 1999/00, a frenzied encounter that ended 3-3.

Champions League test

Roger Bogunyà

ACF Fiorentina and FC Barcelona meet tonight (20.45, live on R@dio Barça) in a friendly that could well be repeated later on this season in the Champions League.

Having won two games in Scotland, Josep Guardiola is soon off to the USA, where the side have two more matches, but first there is a stopover in Florence, and a top level encounter with Fiorentina (20.45, live on Barça TV, Barça TV Online and R@dio Barça), another side challenging for a Champions League berth this year.

26 players

Josep Guardiola has 26 men to choose from as he gets things ready for the Champions League qualifier, with the 21 first team players joined by reserves Jeffren, Víctor Sánchez, Vázquez, Pedro and Busquets, who also make the trip to Tuscany. All the players have played at least some football this year, apart from Abidal, Sylvinho, Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta, while Jorquera is still recovering from injury.

Charity match

The game forms part of a testimonial the home club and UEFA wish to hold for Artemio Franchi, and three different charity organisations will be gaining from the proceeds: the Fondazione Artemio Franchi, the Fondazione Fiorentina Onlus and the Fundació FC Barcelona.

Fiore fourth in Serie A

The side managed by Cesare Prandelli have two class strikers in Mutu and Gilardino, the latter recently signed from AC Milan. Also in the squad are such quality offerings as goalkeeper Frey, Swede Jorgensen and former Almeria man Felipe Melo.

Fiorentina finished fourth in the league last season ahead of the likes of AC Milan, and like Barcelona have a qualifying match to get through before their names are entered definitively for the Champions League draw. Fiore’s two biggest successes to date were Italian league championships in 1955/56 and 1968/69).