Fiorentina concluded their pre-season test in London with a 3-2 defeat against EFL Championship side QPR at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon. The match served as a key evaluation for the Viola under newly appointed head coach Fabio Grosso, following their recent victory over Serie C side Gubbio at Viola Park earlier in the week.
Grosso opted for a strong starting line-up, handing debuts to all five of his summer signings: Radu Dragusin, Viery, Alex Jimenez, Arthur Atta, and Christ Inao Oulai. The attacking unit featured both Moise Kean and Albert Gudmundsson. The deadlock was broken in the 30th minute when Dodo was penalised for a foul inside the penalty area, allowing Nicolas Masden to convert from the spot. QPR extended their lead to 2-0 in the 39th minute through a strike from Boy Kemper from the edge of the box.
At the interval, Grosso made significant changes to his side, bringing on Oliver Christensen, Pietro Comuzzo, Luca Ranieri, Giovanni Fabbian, Nicolo Fagioli, Rolando Mandragora, and centre-forward Roberto Piccoli. Only Dodo, Marco Brescianini, Jimenez, and Gudmundsson remained on the pitch for the second half. Northern Ireland international Paul Smyth increased QPR's lead to 3-0 less than 10 minutes after the restart. Fiorentina managed to pull two goals back, with Arthur Atta scoring in the 45th minute and Roberto Piccoli finding the net in the 65th minute following a delivery from second-half substitute Nicolo Fortini.
The match scoring sequence was: Masden (Q) 30’, Kemper (Q) 39’, Atta (F) 45’, Smyth (Q) 54’, and Piccoli (F) 65’.
QPR lined up with: Charles; Mbengue, Dunne, Edwards, Kemper; Madsen, Vale, Chair; Smyth, Burrell, Kone.
Fiorentina lined up with: De Gea; Dodo, Dragusin, Viery, Jimenez; Oulai, Ndour, Brescianini; Atta, Gudmundsson; Kean.
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