Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Spirito di Bati

Have we really been away so long? I guess we have. Eight years away from Europe's top competition. And what have the Viola been through in the interim?

Relegated to C2, won promotion, made the double-jump to Serie B, won a dramatic play-off, avoided immediate relegation from Serie A, flung out of a Champions League spot, handed a hefty points penalty, lost out in the UEFA Cup semi-final. Quiet times, really.

The Stadio Artemio Franchi will be THE place to be tonight when Slavia Prague visit. The atmosphere should be tremendous as the Florentine fans turn out in force to will their team through to the group stages. After the big spending of the summer, they need that financial boost.

It is also a chance for this new generation to show it can live up to the boys of the past - big Francesco Toldo, Rui Costa and, of course, the mythical Batigol. No Montolivo, he's at the Olympics, but a dream of going to the elite stages of the competition. It would be so sweet.

I reckon it will be a tough tie. Somehow the boys never do things easily. Here is hoping. Forza Viola!

4 comments:

patcook said...

pretty easy in the end hey? 2-0 should be enough to qualify.

Good to see Gila on the scoresheet early in the season (hopefully he's all scored out before he gets to play against Milan)

ginkers said...

Grande Gila e Grande Mutu! The best possible response to all the doubts of the summer. Very impressed by Felipe, and quite happy with Vargas too. All in all a fine display but surely Slavia will be a bit more adventurous in the return leg.

Aussie Romanista said...

Forza Viola!
That free kick was just delicious. Shame he won't be scoring them for Roma.

ginkers said...

It was a cracker. But I wouldn't worry, you have plenty of good players of your own...