Fiorentina Back In Champions League After Draw

The Viola went into the game in the Czech Republic, leading 2-0 from the first leg in Florence a fortnight ago. Daniel Pablo Osvaldo replaced injured star man Adrian Mutu in a trident attack with Alberto Gilardino and Mario Alberto Santana. Alessandro Gamberini returned to central defence in place of Per Kroldrup, while Massimo Gobbi was preferred to Marco Donadel.Slavia Prague switched from their away 4-5-1 formation to a more attacking 4-4-2, as they knew they needed goals to turn the tie around. Teenage prospect Tomas Necid partnered Macedonian international Goce Toleski up-front.Fiorentina made the more aggressive start, with Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Santana both unsuccessfully trying their luck. The home side had their first attempt on 11 minutes when Necid burst into the area, but his shot from the angle went into the side-netting.On 17 minutes, the Viola had a great chance to take the lead when Gilardino controlled the ball inside the area but saw his shot deflected. Immediately, from the resulting corner, Santana could not react fast enough at the back post, allowing Vaniak to parry.Most of the openings were for the Viola, and Juan Manuel Vargas charged into the penalty box but saw his shot deflected around for a corner.On 31 minutes Fiorentina were inches away from taking the lead after another new summer signing, Felipe Melo, got his head onto a corner from the right, only to see his effort turned onto the crossbar by Vaniak.The Czechs were struggling to make any impact in the first half, as the Fiorentina defence was showing excellent organisation. On 42 minutes Gilardino combined well with Osvaldo, before the ex-Milan striker fired in a shot that was blocked by a defender.Slavia knew they needed to make changes, and made a double substitution at the break, with Svento and Senkerik replacing Janda and Toleski.Gilardino had another great chance on 52 minutes but confirmed his clumsiness by tripping over his own feet inside the area.Fiorentina continued where they left off from the first half, with Osvaldo and Gilardino both causing danger to the Slavia goal. Felipe started a counter-attack on 57 minutes, but Vaniak did well to come off his line and beat Gobbi to the ball.A minute later Slavia had their best effort of the second half so far through former Inter player Tijani Belaid, as his shot from the right whizzed over the bar.Donadel replaced Kuzmanovic for Fiorentina, but it was Slavia who were growing in confidence now. Mickael Tavares also fired over, before Jaroslav Cerny forced Sebastien Frey into a save.Osvaldo continued to be lively, and on 72 minutes, just moments before he was substituted for Stevan Jovetic, the striker brought out a fine stop from Vaniak.Time was running out for Slavia now, going into the final quarter-of-an-hour, and Belaid again tried his luck from outside the area, but again he got under the ball.Jovetic showed his quality by beating his man, and firing just past the post. The youngster then inspired another Viola move, but Vaniak rushed out on Santana after a touch-on by Vargas.On 81 minutes, Slavia caused some concern in the Viola area, as Erich Brabec headed over from a free kick. Down the other end Gobbi saw his shot deflected round the post off a defender.The Czechs tried desperately to force the reckoning but the quality just wasn't there, and they were now a beaten team. Donadel fired wide before the excellent Jovetic caused more trouble with his skilful running at the defence.The final whistle soon sounded, and all in all it had been a comfortable evening for Fiorentina, who win 2-0 on aggregate and return to the Champions League group stages for the first time since 1999/00. Cesare Prandelli and his players will watch on eagerly during tomorrow's draw for the group stages. Slavia Prague: Vaniak; Tavares, Brabec, Siklic, Janda (Svento 45), Toleski (Senkerik 45), Suchy, Krajcik, Belaid, Necid, Cerny (Jarolim 71)Fiorentina: Frey, Zauri, Gamberini, Dainelli, Vargas, Kuzmanovic (Donadel 62), Melo, Gobbi, Santana, Gilardino (Pazzini 79), Osvaldo (Jovetic 74)