Fiorentina defeat relegates Palermo

Palermo have been relegated from Serie A this afternoon after slipping to a narrow defeat at Fiorentina.

La Viola were also desperate for a victory to keep alive their slim hopes of Champions League qualification as the match started at a frenetic pace.

Both sides spurned early chances to score as Luca Toni, Jasmin Kurtic and Ezequiel Munoz all failed to convert from close range.

Kurtic then spurned a wonderful opportunity for the visitors as his scuffed shot drifted wide of the target.

Stevan Jovetic then had a goal disallowed for offside but Fiorentina finally broke the deadlock five minutes before the break.

Slick passing from Borja Valero and Juan Caudrado created a chance for Toni at the far post and the veteran striker made no mistake, sliding in to score with the help of a late deflection.

Palermo introduced talisman Fabrizio Miccoli midway through the second half but the diminutive forward was unable to engineer a response.

Paulo Dybala and Toni both fired wide in the closing stages as Vincenzo Montella's men held firm to secure a narrow victory.