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Fiorentina moved up to fifth place thanks to a curious Giampaolo Pazzini goal, but were twice saved by the woodwork.
The Viola needed only one last push to secure European football for next season, but Cagliari found themselves just three points clear of the drop zone with as many games left to play. Luca Toni remained sidelined with a metatarsal problem, but Tomas Ujfalusi returned at right-back. Daniele Conti returned from a ban to bolster the visitors.
The deadlock was broken after just over six minutes in a chaotic move. Adrian Mutu's free kick was deflected into the path of Giampaolo Pazzini's header into the ground, which took a bizarre twist off the grass to change direction and enter the net despite two attempted goalline clearances.
Cagliari really should've equalised on the half-hour mark, but somehow Simone Pepe managed to scuff his finish when on his own against Sebastien Frey from a David Suazo assist.
Fabio Liverani curled a free kick inches over the bar and Mutu's set-piece was deflected off target.
Antonio Chimenti smothered an impressive Pazzini volley on the stroke of half-time.
After the break Chimenti performed an extraordinary reaction save. Mutu chipped the ball over the defence for Pazzini's volley into the ground and the goalkeeper lifted his trailing leg to deflect the ball.
Cagliari also went close, as a corner kick was deflected on to the crossbar with Suazo unable to make the most of the loose ball.
The Sardinians hit the woodwork for the second time on 58 minutes, when Pepe put the ball into the centre for a Cristian Del Grosso header that came off the frame of the goal.
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