Mario Gomez double sends Fiorentina into Coppa Italia quarter-finals

Mario Gomez struck twice to help fire Fiorentina to a 3-1 victory against Atalanta BC in the last 16 of the Coppa Italia this evening.

The Germany international, who has only recently returned from a long-term injury absence, found the net inside six minutes with a deflected effort beyond the reach of Vlada Avramov.

Reported Chelsea target Juan Cuadrado doubled the hosts' advantage moments later when he converted from the penalty spot after Guglielmo Stendardo was adjudged to have brought down Gomez inside the area.

Matters soon got even worse for Atalanta as Gomez added his second of the contest before the half-hour mark, although Rolando Bianchi did manage to pull one back before the interval with a well-placed effort into the bottom corner.

That proved to be merely a consolation, however, with Fiorentina doing enough to see out the second half and secure their passage into the next round as a result.