Fiorentina hosted Hellas Verona in their Serie A match at Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Borja Valero fired the home side into the lead, but a goal from Romulo leveled the scores.
Juan Manuel Iturbe then put Verona ahead, before Valero scored his second of the game.
Fiorentina took the lead through a Juan Vargas goal, and Giuseppe Rossi's penalty following Bosko Jankovic's red card made it four.
Jorginho pulled a goal back for the visitors, but the home side held on to claim the three points.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Good evening and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of today’s Serie A meeting between Fiorentina and Hellas Verona at Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Today's Serie A clash sees two teams who have made fine starts to the season, with Fiorentina fifth in the table, two points above Verona who are in sixth.
TEAM NEWS: The starting line ups for both teams have just been announced and I can bring them to you now, starting with the hosts.
FIORENTINA XI: Neto, Tomovic, Savic, Rodriguez, Cuadrado, Vecino, Pizarro, Valero, Vargas, Joaquin, Rossi
VERONA XI: Rafael, Cacciatore, Gonzalez, Maietta, Agostini, Romulo, Jorginho, Hallfredsson, Jankovic, Iturbe, Toni
Giuseppe Rossi leads the line for Fiorentina this evening. He currently tops the scoring charts in Serie A, with 11 goals so far this season. Former Viola forward Luca Toni starts for Verona and will be hoping to net against his old club tonight.
Despite losing in the league last weekend, only Serie A leaders Juventus are in better form than Fiorentina. If they do manage to win tonight they will move level with Inter Milan in the table, who are fourth on 27 points.
Verona have enjoyed a fine start to the season since winning promotion to the Italian top flight and they sit in sixth place in the table. They have lost their last two league games though, and will be looking to get back to winning ways today.
Verona’s home form this season has been a key factor in their lofty league position, with 6 of their 7 achieved at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi. In contract, they have lost four times on their travels.
PREDICTION: It should be an entertaining game in Florence this evening, with both teams no stranger to finding the back of the net. Confidence should be flowing through both sides and it is easy to forget that Verona were in Serie B last season. I feel that Fiorentina’s fire power should be enough to see them win and carry on their push for a Champions League place, with 3-1 my prediction of the game.
We are just five minutes away from kick off in Florence. Don't forget that after this game, Lazio will be taking on Napoli in another huge Serie A clash.
It's a packed house at the Artemio Franchi. Gabriel Batistuta is in the stands today and has received a rapturous applause from the home fans.
The players are finally making their way out onto the pitch after a short delay.
We have some late team news, David Pizarro suffered a problem in the warm-up, so Massimo Ambrosini starts in his place.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
We are yet to see any goalmouth action, but Fiorentina have started well and look confident on the ball, taking their time to advance down the pitch.
GOAL! Fiorentina 1-0 Hellas Verona (Valero)
What a start for the home side! Valero cuts inside from the right flank and fires in a low strike that is just beyond the reach of Rafael. The keeper may feel he could have done better, but it was a sweetly struck shot.
GOAL! Fiorentina 1-1 Hellas Verona (Romulo)
Verona were behind for less than a minute! Iturbe unleashes a powerful effort from outside the box that is palmed away by the keeper, but he can only push it out to Romulo who scores against his parent club!
Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Montella will be regretting his decision to allow Romulo to start against his team tonight. He is on loan from the club and understandably he didn't celebrate when he scored.
CHANCE! Fiorentina come within inches of retaking the lead, as Valero latches onto a ball over the top, but flicks his effort over the bar.
GOAL! Fiorentina 1-2 Hellas Verona (Iturbe)
The visitors have turned this game around! Iturbe cuts inside and fires in another long range effort, but it is out of the reach of Neto and flies into the back of the net. This is one game you can't take your eyes off!
GOAL! Fiorentina 2-2 Hellas Verona (Valero)
Amazing! Valero has grabbed his second goal of the game and the scores are tied again! The midfielder works his way to the edge of the box and fires in an effort that takes a slight deflection, before finding the top corner of the net.
Toni tries to get in on the goalscoring action with an effort from the edge of the box, but the former Fiorentina favourite fires his shot a long way over the bar.
Verona almost fashion a chance as they win a corner kick, which causes panic inside the box, but the home defence manage to scramble it clear.
The visitors have looked really good on the break today and they burst forward with pace, however as Toni looks to slip in Romulo, his final pass lets him down and the move comes to an end.
Fiorentina win a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of their opponents' area, but Rossi wastes his chance, as he hammers a strike straight into the wall.
Iturbe has caused Fiorentina real problems here this evening. He weaves his way into the box and it takes two defenders to bring his run to an end.
The home side keep hold of the ball for a long spell, trying to lure their opponents out, before Cuadrado takes it upon himself to have a strike on goal, but his effort is poor and sails over the bar.
YELLOW CARD! Ambrosini picks up a booking for a foul on Agostini. The midfielder is incensed, but it was fully deserved.
The visitors show some neat touches in midfield and work the ball to Toni on the edge of the box. His first touch is poor though, as he allows the ball to run away from him and drift out of play.
CHANCE! Verona keeper Rafael gets away with a huge mistake! He kicks the ball straight at the back of Rossi and is lucky to see the ball head just over the bar.
Fiorentina allow Iturbe space to cut inside and shoot, but this time his effort fails to trouble the keeper. With the form the midfielder is in this evening, you can't afford to give him room to strike the ball.
YELLOW CARD! Romulo picks up a booking for a late challenge.
CHANCE! What a chance for the visitors to score a third! They break at pace with Toni leading the attack. He works his way to the edge of the box before laying the ball off to Hallfredsson, but the home side manage to get enough players back and block his attempted effort.
GOAL! Fiorentina 3-2 Hellas Verona (Vargas)
The first half started with Fiorentina scoring and ends with them grabbing a goal! Vargas picks up the ball on the left hand side of the penalty area, before lashing a low shot across goal that beats Rafael. The keeper hasn't covered himself in glory there, but the home side won't mind.
HALF-TIME: Fiorentina 3-2 Hellas Verona
After 45 minutes of this Serie A clash, Fiorentina are leading Verona 3-2. It has been a wonderful half of football, with positive attacking play from each side.
For a team who have just been promoted, the approach of Hellas Verona has been truly refreshing. They could of been forgiven for sitting back and trying to grab a draw, but they have attacked their opponents tonight and have looked dangerous every time they have come forward.
In a game that has seen five goals already, it is somewhat surprising that Rossi's name is not on the score sheet for the hosts. He has been kept quiet this evening, but a man who has scored 11 goals already this season is always going to be a danger.
Neither goalkeeper have been at their best this evening, and I expect that they will both look back at the first half very critically. It has however made for a truly exhilarating game of football.
The second half has begun and we are back underway!
SUBSTITUTION: The home side have made a change, with Matias Fernandez coming on for Vecino.
The home side have seen a lot of possession in the early stages of the second half, but have not created a chance to test the keeper as yet.
YELLOW CARD! Matias is booked for a dive, as he attempts to win a free kick on the edge of his opponents area. It looks as if he was caught though and is unlucky with that decision.
RED CARD AND PENALTY TO FIORENTINA!
Jankovic is sent off after a handball inside the area, with the referee giving a penalty to the home side.
GOAL! Fiorentina 4-2 Hellas Verona (Rossi)
Rossi makes no mistake with the spot kick, to take his tally to 12 goals in Serie A this season. That goal has given Fiorentina a two goal lead and they will look to put the game beyond the reach of the 10 men.
CHANCE! The visitors haven't given this game up yet. The ball is played to the back post where Toni meets it on the volley, but he is unlucky to see his effort crash into the side netting.
The hosts keep possession of the ball well and look to slow the game down, before Fernandez takes it upon himself to attempt a long range effort, but it flies wide of the goal.
Cuadrado weaves his way through the away defence after a fantastic run and he is desperately unlucky to see his powerful shot go wide of the post.
The intensity of this game has certainly slowed down since the sending off, with the away side understandably more cautious at committing players to each attack.
Joaquin works himself a shooting chance, as he cuts inside from the left, but his attempt at curling the ball into the top corner ends up going wide.
GOAL! Fiorentina 4-3 Hellas Verona (Jorginho)
The away team aren't out of this game just yet! Toni sees his shot blocked by the keeper, but it falls to Jorginho just outside the box, and he guides a brilliant low effort into the bottom corner.
SUBSTITUTION: The home side make a change, with Matos coming on and Joaquin making way.
CHANCE! Fernandez bursts forward through the midfield, and with the home side backing off, he unleashes a fierce effort that Rafael does well to palm away.
YELLOW CARD! Cacciatore is the latest player to pick up a booking for a clumsy challenge. The home side have a free kick here in a promising position.
CHANCE! Valero whips in the free kick, and it travels all the way through to the keeper, who is forced to make the save. It falls to Matos inside, who is just a couple of yards out, but he fires the rebound over the bar. He really should have found the back of the net.
Verona are seeing plenty of the ball at the moment, and the home side are looking nervous in possession. They are giving the ball away far too easily and Montella will be furious if they don't manage to see this game out.
SAVE! Stunning save from Rafael! The keeper is at full stretch to keep out a low strike from Tomovic that looked destined for the bottom corner!
Rossi is slipped through by Valero, but as he gets his shot away, it is blocked for a corner. The set-piece causes problems in the middle as the keeper is forced to kick the ball away, but the home side fail to make it count.
SUBSTITUTION: Change for Verona as Agostini makes way, with Cacia replacing him.
Cuadrado is the next player to try his luck for the home side, but his low effort is drilled wide of the post.
SUBSTITUTION: The hosts make a change with Rossi making way for Ilicic.
There are going to be three minutes of injury-time.
The home side look like they have done just enough, and are keeping possession high inside their opponents' half.
FULL-TIME: Fiorentina 4-3 Hellas Verona
An extraordinary game of football comes to an end and Fiorentina have won this seven-goal thriller. Please stay with us here at Sports Mole as we turn our attentions to Lazio and Napoli's Serie A meeting.
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
