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Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Alberto Gilardino took advantage of poor defending to defeat 10-man Chievo.
The Viola paid a visit to the Flying Donkeys days after their disappointing 0-0 Champions League stalemate with Steaua Bucharest. Adrian Mutu missed out as his elbow injury sustained over a month ago flared up again, while Martin Jorgensen was also sidelined. Chievo missed Simone Bentivoglio, Antimo Iunco, Mauro Esposito and the suspended Davide Mandelli.
Chievo had never won this fixture with a draw in 2000-01 and three defeats. It was a family affair, as Sebastien Frey's little brother Nicolas started for the Gialloblu.
Stevan Jovetico sent ex-Chievo star Franco Semioli clear twice in the first three minutes and then Alberto Gilardino exchanged passes with Riccardo Montolivo to fire inches over the bar.
The home side also threatened with Sergio Pellissier bursting into the box down the left flank and an effort charged down.
Jovetic wasted a golden opportunity on the counter, as he tried to dribble past the only two remaining defenders and the hesitation was decisive. Gilardino had another great chance, his marvellous heel flick to leave the defender for dead, but the finish was on the side-netting.
Fiorentina took the lead in curious circumstances. Gilardino earned a free kick and Montolivo took it quickly, rolling through for Zdravko Kuzmanovic's angled drive while the Chievo defence stood around arguing with the referee.
The tension was high and Scardina was shown a straight red card for his dreadful tackle on Semioli.
Stefano Sorrentino smothered a Juan Manuel Vargas piledriver and then performed a splendid save to flap away Gilardino's header from a corner.
Fiorentina were unlucky not to make it 2-0 on the hour mark, as Kuzmanovic's glancing header from a Vargas cross thumped the upright with Sorrentino beaten.
10-man Chievo also had a chance, Pellissier holding off Alessandro Gamberini to cut back for Luciano's shot over.
Fiorentina were in charge, though, and wasted another excellent opportunity. Montolivo exchanged passes with Gilardino only to smash against the underside of the bar from close range.
The result was put beyond doubt by Gilardino's towering free header on a Vargas cross, but the Chievo defence left him relatively undisturbed.
Frey still had work to do on Pellissier's angled drive, but the Viola dominated this match.
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