Bologna vs Fiorentina preview - Tomovic: Season starts now

Posted Sunday, February 24, 2013 by PA

The second half of the Serie A season starts now, according to Fiorentina defender Nenad Tomovic as La Viola look to continue their revival at Bologna on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Serb is prepared to write off everything that came before last weekend's 4-1 victory over Inter Milan - given the fact Fiorentina have already lost four games in 2013 - and help guide his club back into the Champions League places.

Just two points separate Fiorentina from third-placed Lazio, who do not play until Monday night, and with the Milan derby following Sunday's afternoon games, La Viola could make a real statement of intent at the Renato Dall'Ara.

"We can finish really high up the table," Tomovic told the Corriere dello Sport. "We've had a bit of bad luck, especially in the game against Pescara.

"We had a bit of psychological breakdown. We were doing really well until Christmas but then things became really difficult.

"Maybe we've relaxed a little bit, so our season starts now.

"My own dream is to stay here in Florence. I'm very happy here and I want to be here for a long time."

Midfielder David Pizarro serves a one-match ban while Matias Fernandez, Michele Camporese, Giuseppe Rossi and Ahmed Hegazi are nursing injuries and will not travel.

Confidence is high among the visitors but Bologna suffered a demoralising setback in their bid to avoid being sucked back into a relegation battle.

Following Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Catania, head coach Stefano Pioli said: "It was a shame that we didn't turn up for the first half, we didn't do what we were supposed to do.

"You can't let your opponents have free reign for 45 minutes in Serie A. I'm bitter and disappointed. We took the wrong approach and we paid for it."

Defenders Cesare Natali and Mikael Antonsson will not feature due to injury but Pioli has an otherwise fully-fit and suspension-free squad.

Recent history is on the hosts' side, though, with Fiorentina failing to take all three points from the Renato Dall'Ara since February 2009.