Fiorentina vs AS Roma preview - Montella wants immediate response

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has demanded an immediate response to his team's shocking league loss at Lazio when they welcome his former club Roma on Thursday in the Europa League.

The Viola go into the all-Italian last 16 first-leg showdown at the Artemio Franchi stadium after seeing their 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions ended in 4-0 reverse at Lazio on Monday.

The outcome in Rome was Fiorentina's heaviest defeat of the campaign and dropped the Viola to fifth place in Serie A, eight points adrift of Thursday's rivals.

"This is my worst defeat as a coach," former Roma striker Montella told the Italian media. "We deserved to lose.

"Lazio were far superior.

"We now must turn the page and hand a much better performance against Roma."

Fiorentina have lost just once at home in Europe this season and will be hoping to replicate the form that saw them beat Roma 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico last month to progress to the Coppa Italia semi-finals.

German forward Mario Gomez, who scored both goals in that game, will not feature on Thursday as he is sidelined through injury.

Roma coach Rudi Garcia is desperate for answers after his team's dismal performance in Sunday's goalless result at Chievo.

The Giallorossi have won just one and drawn eight of their last nine league games to fall 11 points adrift of Serie A leaders Juventus and the Europa League is the only realistic option for Roma to get silverware this season.

"We have to work hard to put in a good performance against Fiorentina, that's all we can do," Garcia said. "We need to do more and play better.

"Normally after a bad performance you have to wait a week before you can get back out there, whereas we have a huge match at Fiorentina in the Europa League on Thursday.

"We will come up against a quality side who are on top form.

"That's why we need to start playing well again on Thursday."

Roma won 2-1 at Feyenord in the previous round to halt a six-match winless away run in Europe.

The Eternal City outfit is without pivotal captain Francesco Totti as the veteran forward suffered a thigh strain during Sunday's goalless draw at Chievo.

With Totti unavailable, Adem Ljajic will play alongside Gervinho and Juan Manuel Iturbe in Roma's attack.

The hosts are without injured defender Stefan Savic.