| Fiorentina played fine football despite the lack of their fans and both star strikers, moving closer to a potential UEFA Cup place. The fans were locked out of the Stadio Franchi after it failed to meet the stringent new security measures, but several hundred congregated outside to support their teams and eat a picnic together.
Alberto Malesani returned to face the club he Coached in 1997-98. The Viola were unbeaten on home turf since October and a win over seventh placed Udinese would bring them closer to a UEFA Cup spot. Mario Santana, Marco Donadel and Massimo Gobbi were injured for Fiorentina, losing both Adrian Mutu and Luca Toni in the final minutes. Udinese also had problems, as star striker Antonio Di Natale was out of action.
Vincenzo Iaquinta flashed wide from a promising position and Dario Dainelli's header was off target. Reginaldo ran clear down the right and Riccardo Montolivo clattered into the upright when he just failed to tap in at the back post. Morgan De Sanctis parried a snapshot from ex-Udinese man Martin Jorgensen, but Giampaolo Pazzini was unable to pounce on the loose ball. Fiorentina's pressure paid off when Reginaldo hooked down a Manuele Blasi cross and stroked low into the far corner, all with his favoured right foot. A Fabio Liverani volley flashed across the face of goal, then Iaquinta nodded off target. Dario Dainelli added to Fiorentina's injury woes, making way for former Friuli man Per Kroldrup. The Viola made it 2-0 before the break with the other 'replacement' upfront. Manuel Pasqual rolled the ball across from the left for Pazzini to fire in from six yards at the near post. Fiorentina had a good chance to secure the points after the restart, although Montolivo was unable to finalise the good work from Jorgensen. Frey parried a D'Agostino half-volley. There were more opportunities late on with Reginaldo, Siqueira and a tough save on Fiorentina youth team player Di Carmine. | 
