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Adrian Mutu and Mario Alberto Santana struck twice to revive Fiorentina's Serie A form in five-star fashion and leave Cagliari rooted to the foot of the table.
Both these sides were trying to go into the Christmas break with a smile after some tumultuous times. The Viola were fresh from UEFA Cup qualification, but had not won in five Serie A games, while Cagliari had a truly chaotic week. Coach Nedo Sonetti resigned, the club announced Marco Giampaolo was returning a month after his dismissal, but the tactician refused and they convinced Sonetti to reconsider.
Propping up the table, the Sardinians welcomed back Pasquale Foggia after he was dropped amid the scandal of an alleged attack on teammate Davide Marchini, but were without a victory in 10. Sebastien Frey and Alessandro Potenza were out injured.
Cagliari's record here was appalling, not earning a point since January 1982 and last winning in April 1972.
Fiorentina took less than three minutes to open the scoring, as Adrian Mutu rolled across to Riccardo Montolivo on the edge of the area to unleash an absolute missile with his right foot. It didn't take long for the Sardinians to reply, as Foggia ran down the left and cut back for a deflected cross that was lashed home by Michele Fini. It was a very open game and Cagliari threatened to take the lead, as Cristiano Lupatelli parried a Mancosu piledriver and Fini's follow-up. Mutu restored the Viola's advantage before the break, getting in front of his marker to nod in Martin Jorgensen's cross at the near post. In stoppages Paolo Bianco shoved Christian Vieri in the back, so Mutu stepped up to fire his penalty under the crossbar and extend Fiorentina's lead. Mutu also created the fourth straight after the restart, cutting back to the edge of the area for Mario Alberto Santana, the low drive going between Marruocco's legs. Cagliari did not give in, as Joaquin Larrivey fired a couple of chances over the bar, but Santana grabbed the fifth by running rins around Cristian Del Grosso to flash his shot into the far top corner. | 
