Atalanta vs Fiorentina preview - Montella: We have to win

Posted Saturday, April 13, 2013 by PA

There can be no excuses for Fiorentina if they fail to beat Atalanta in Bergamo, according to Viola head coach Vincenzo Montella.

Last weekend's 2-2 draw with AC Milan at the Stadio Artemio Franchi was sullied by a controversial penalty call, a marginal red-card decision and a heated argument between Rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliano and home fans in the stands.

Both sides had reason to feel aggrieved when dropping two points, then, but Montella insists his players will only have themselves to blame if they waste the chance to consolidate fourth place.

He told La Repubblica: "We're not looking for any excuses. The game is incredibly important to us.

"The opponent is a strong one, I have no doubt about that. Atalanta are a tricky team and they have a good temperament.

"We have to use everything we have at our disposal, not just our technical quality.

"We will come up against a starting XI packed full of quality and we will need to pay special attention to (German) Denis and (Giacomo) Bonaventura."

Montella is struggling for numbers with defender Stefan Savic joining Mati Fernandez, Giuseppe Rossi, Michele Camporese, Ahmed Hegazy and Rafal Wolski on the treatment table after Montenegrin striker Stevan Jovetic aggravated an existing thigh injury.

The Viola boss remains confident winger Manuel Pasqual will return to fitness in time, though, with striker Mounir El Hamdaoui set to make a rare start in Jovetic's place.

Defender Nenad Tomovic serves a one-match ban alongside the suspended Atalanta trio of Cristian Raimondi, Carlos Carmona and Luca Cigarini.

The Nerazzurri may be 10 points clear of the relegation zone with seven games remaining but head coach Stefano Colantuono would prefer to guarantee the club's safety this weekend.

He said: "My only goal remains keeping us up. Let's save ourselves first and then think about having another good season next year."

Gian Bellini, Igor Budan, Maxi Moralez, Guido Marilungo and Riccardo Cazzola are injury concerns for 13th-placed Atalanta, who have won this fixture twice in a row while losing only once in 10 home meetings since 1995.