Fiorentina eager to make amends

Two weeks after surrendering a two-goal lead in Lyon, ACF Fiorentina return to UEFA Champions League action determined to take all the spoils from Matchday 2 when they host FC Steaua Bucureşti on Tuesday.

Frustration in France
With Italy forward Alberto Gilardino having scored twice and with only 17 minutes remaining on the clock against Olympique Lyonnais, Cesare Prandelli's Fiorentina looked set for a flying start to their campaign in Group F. Instead, late strikes left Prandelli's men with a creditable if frustrating 2-2 draw, and with a real desire to let nothing slip a second time at their Artemio Franchi Stadium.

No fear
"We're ready," Prandelli told a news conference on the eve of the game. "It's an important match and the team are in good shape. We're not afraid of Steaua, but we're aware we're taking on a big club. We've studied them, we've watched their games – they're technically very good, they play good football and they really play as a team. There is no fear, but we've the right level of concern about them."

'Difficult games'
Fans of the Viola have waited eight long years for a home fixture in UEFA's flagship competition, having bowed out in the second group stage with a 3-3 draw against FC Girondins de Bordeaux in Florence in 2000. Aware that Serie A rivals AS Roma lost at home to Romania's other contender CFR 1907 Cluj on Matchday 1, Prandelli is taking nothing for granted. "They're all difficult games at this level," he said. "You've got to be well-prepared and know there will be times during a match when you're going to suffer. But we believe we can have a good game."

Room for improvement
Despite the fact his charges had to settle for a point in France, the 51-year-old coach went on: "I want the kind of performance we put in against Lyon." However, he clearly expects a better result on Tuesday. "A team that wants to improve always has to give something extra, both in terms of the way they play and the attitude they have."

Lăcătuş' return
The game will be a special one for Steaua coach Marius Lăcătuş, who spent the 1990/91 season with Fiorentina during his playing career. "I'm really pleased to be back," the 44-year-old said. "It's been a long time but I had some wonderful times here. I know what the crowd will be like and I know they'll get behind the team." Lăcătuş needs to lift his men, however, after a narrow 1-0 defeat by FC Bayern München in Bucharest leaves them searching for their first points in the section.
 
Time to attack
"It's going to be a tough game, particularly having lost our home match," he said. "But we'll be going out there to play an attacking game and to score goals." Steaua will be helped in that objective by the return from suspension of midfielder Bănel Nicoliţă, who missed the game against Bayern. Brazilian striker Arthur Bernhardt and Colombian playmaker Dayro Moreno will also be hoping for better this time around after both were denied an equaliser by the woodwork at the Steaua Stadium.