Viola eager for duo to prove fitness
Posted Wednesday, November 04, 2009 by PA
Fiorentina are hoping Stevan Jovetic and Adrian Mutu will overcome fitness woes and be available when they host Hungarians Debrecen in the Champions League Group E clash.
Mutu is struggling with a problematic knee while Jovetic is trying to recover from a toe injury.
Both players missed Sunday's 3-1 triumph over Catania which ended Fiorentina's four-match winless run and lifted them to fifth in the standings.
With Jovetic and Mutu having combined for four of their six goals in the group stages so far, Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli is eager to recover both players.
"We have a few injury problems with Mutu and Jovetic," Prandelli said. "We will have to wait and see if both players will be available to play."
Should Jovetic and Mutu fail to recover, Italy international Alberto Gilardino will lead Fiorentina's attack.
Prandelli's side goes into the encounter at the Stadio Artemio Franchi looking to make it three wins in a row in Europe.
The Viola bounced back from their opening defeat to Lyon with a 2-0 win over Liverpool before edging Debrecen 4-3 in Hungary.
The outcome left Fiorentina second in the pool, three points behind group leaders Lyon and three clear of Liverpool.
The Italians know that a victory on Wednesday could see them take an important step towards advancing to the next round.
"This competition is very important to us," said Fiorentina defender Juan Vargas.
"We know that we will have plenty of support and we need to make the most of our home games.
"A win will be an important result for us and we hope we can deliver."
Despite Debrecen having failed to collect a point so far in the competition, Vargas says there is no way his team will take the Hungarian giants lightly.
"Debrecen are doing well and they are a strong team," said Vargas.
"They made life difficult for us in Hungary and we know they will be determined to get a positive result in Florence."
The absence of Mutu and Jovetic would be a blessing for the visitors.
Andras Herczeg's side, meanwhile, have given away nine goals so far in the competition.
The players know they must step up their game if they are to upset Fiorentina.
"It's not easy to score three goals in one game in the Champions League," said Debrecen striker Gergely Rudolf.
"We did that in our first game against Fiorentina and that is a positive thing.
"But we cannot expect to win a game when you give away four goals.
"We have to continue to improve."
The reigning Hungarian champions go into the encounter on the back of a 2-1 defeat by Ujpest.
That setback was their second straight defeat.
Debrecen's recent poor form in the domestic competition has seen them fall to sixth in the standings, 10 points behind league leaders Videoton.
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