Fiorentina experienced a 3-2 defeat against EFL Championship side QPR in a pre-season friendly match held at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon. The fixture served as a significant test for the Italian side under the leadership of newly-appointed head coach Fabio Grosso, following a previous friendly victory against Serie C outfit Gubbio at Viola Park earlier in the week.
Grosso deployed a strong starting line-up that featured five summer signings: Radu Dragusin, Viery, Alex Jimenez, Arthur Atta, and Christ Inao Oulai. The attacking unit included Moise Kean and Albert Gudmundsson. However, the hosts broke the deadlock at the 30-minute mark when Nicolas Masden converted a penalty after Dodo was penalized inside the box. QPR extended their lead in the 39th minute through a strike from Boy Kemper from the edge of the area. Arthur Atta managed to pull a goal back for the visitors at the 45th minute.
Following the interval, Grosso implemented wholesale changes to his squad, introducing Oliver Christensen, Pietro Comuzzo, Luca Ranieri, Giovanni Fabbian, Nicolo Fagioli, Rolando Mandragora, and striker Roberto Piccoli. Dodo, Marco Brescianini, Jimenez, and Gudmundsson were the only starters to remain on the pitch for the second half. QPR restored their two-goal cushion less than 10 minutes into the second half thanks to a goal from Northern Ireland international Paul Smyth. Roberto Piccoli later narrowed the deficit to 3-2 in the 65th minute, assisted by substitute Nicolo Fortini, but the visitors could not find an equalizer.
The match scoring sequence was: Masden (Q) 30’, Kemper (Q) 39’, Atta (F) 45’, Smyth (Q) 54’, and Piccoli (F) 65’.
QPR line-up: Charles, Mbengue, Dunne, Edwards, Kemper, Madsen, Vale, Chair, Smyth, Burrell, Kone.
Fiorentina line-up: De Gea, Dodo, Dragusin, Viery, Jimenez, Oulai, Ndour, Brescianini, Atta, Gudmundsson, Kean.
