Ilicic, Rodriguez on target as Fiorentina rise to third
Slovenian Josip Ilicic curled in his 10th goal of the season and Gonzalo Rodriguez added a late second as Fiorentina got back to winning ways with a 2-0 home win against Torino on Sunday. Fiorentina welcomed Giampiero Ventura's men to the Artemio Franchi stadium desperate to get their title chase back on track after consecutive defeats to Lazio and AC Milan. In spring-like conditions, Ilicic's superb free-kick gave the hosts a 24th minute lead and pulled the Slovenian international level with the club's top scorer, Nikola Kalinic. But Paul Sousa's men were on tenterhooks for the remainder until Rodriguez rose to beat Torino goalkeeper Salvador Ichazo at his near post seven minutes from time with a powerful header from a corner. New Fiorentina recruits Tino Costa and Mauro Zarate, signed in midweek when striker Giuseppe Rossi moved on loan to Spanish league side Levante, made their debuts in the final stages. Costa replaced Ilicic midway through the second half and Zarate replaced Nikola Kalinic with seven minutes remaining. Fiorentina's 13th win moved them up to provisional third place at three points behind leaders Napoli ahead of the remaining Serie A fixtures, with Inter Milan, who host strugglers Carpi, dropping one place to fourth. Napoli travel to Sampdoria aware that defeat could allow champions Juventus, in second place at two points off the pace, to go top of the pile for the first time this season. Juventus have consigned their poor start to the season to distant memory and host Luciano Spalletti's men looking for their 11th consecutive league win of the season. Roma sit in fifth place but travel to Turin looking for only their second win in seven games.
