Fiorentina vs Torino preview - Montella targets top-three finish
Posted Saturday, February 21, 2015 by PA
Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella is not hiding the fact that his aim going into Sunday's clash with Torino is to play Champions League football next season.
With the Viola in fourth place and four points adrift of Napoli, a clash with the in-form Toro is very important.
The top three teams qualify for Europe's elite club competition.
Fiorentina go into the match on the back of Thursday's 1-1 draw at Tottenham in the first leg of their Europa League round of 32 tie, in which Jose Maria Basanta gave the Viola a valuable away goal.
"We want to grow as a team and as a club," Montella told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The Europa League can give us access to the Champions League but we can also achieve this by finishing in the top three in our domestic competition.
"Our ambition is to play next year in the Champions League.
"I'm proud of my players for their performance at Tottenham. It wasn't easy to equalise after going behind but the team showed a strong personality.
"We proved we are a good team and the tie is wide open."
Fiorentina have not lost a game since January 6 and carry a two-game winning streak into Sunday's match.
Toro, meanwhile, travel to Florence looking to extend their 10-match unbeaten run in Serie A.
The Granata have won four of their last five league games to climb to 10th in the standings.
Toro drew 2-2 at home to Athletic Bilbao in their Europe League tie on Thursday.
"My players were a bit down after conceding the equaliser," Toro coach Giampiero Ventura said. "But we played a good game and created good chances.
"We have nothing to fear in our return leg in Bilbao."
Toro's leading scorer Fabio Quagliarella will return to the starting XI having come on as a second-half substitute against Athletic.
The visitors will be without midfielder Omar El Kaddouri, who serves a one-match ban.
Fiorentina left-back Marcos Alonso is also unavailable through suspension.
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