FLORENCE - Fiorentina opened up a four-point lead over AC Milan in the battle for a Champions League berth following a convincing victory against mid-table Genoa on Sunday.
Mario Alberto Santana and Adrian Mutu gave the hosts a two-goal cushion before the break, and Giampaolo Pazzini fired in the Viola's third after almost an hour before young substitute Matias Masiero scored on his debut for the Grifone.
Mutu and Fabio Liverani started for the hosts having returned from injuries while Danilo came in for Genoa in place of Omar Milanetto.
The game started at a fast tempo as both teams pressed forward in the first 10 minutes. Santana created Fiorentina's first chance of the game as he cut loose on the edge of the area but shot wide.
At the other end, Marco Rossi teed up Marco Borriello, who sent in a powerful left-footed shot from 18 yards out which Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastian Frey managed to punch clear.
Frey looked like he was set to ruin Genoa's afternoon as he pulled off another instinctive save to again deny Borriello.
In the eighth minute Mutu almost scored a spectacular overhead kick but his effort was pushed out for a corner by Genoa goalkeeper Alessio Scarpi.
It was no surprise when Santana gave the hosts the lead after 18 minutes. Mutu picked out the Argentinian winger with a lob which he fired home with the outside of his boot.
Mutu then added a second goal with a cracking effort after half an hour to give the Gigliati a comfortable lead.
A long punt forward from Riccardo Montolivo found Giampaolo Pazzini, who played the ball back to the onrushing Mutu and the Romanian blasted home with the outside of his right foot from the edge of the area.
The afternoon was not all going Fiorentina's way however as coach Cesare Prandelli was forced to make two substitutions within the first 30 minutes.
Injuries to Alessandro Gamberini and Santana saw Martin Jorgensen and Ndiaye Papa Waigo make early appearances off the bench.
But Frey pulled off two more decent saves to see the hosts go in at the break with a two-goal cushion.
He blocked a long range Borriello effort before stopping a cross-shot by Giuseppe Sculli following an Ivan Juric pass.
Ten minutes after the restart Mutu came close to scoring a second stunning goal as he sent a right-footed volley from the edge of the area over the bar.
Less than five minutes later Pazzini got his name on the scoresheet as he kept his cool to beat Scarpi after capitalising on a lovely pass from Liverani.
Just after the hour mark Genoa danger man Borriello headed over the bar from the centre of the penalty area after connecting with a Julio Cesar Leon free-kick.
Frey was again on hand to deny the Rossoblu in the 68th minute as he rushed out to block a Masiero shot. The Uruguayan had found himself one-on-one with the Frenchman after being played in by Borriello.
Masiero then fired over with a left-footed shot from outside the area as the youngster looked to impress on his Serie A debut.
And he got his reward in the 82nd minute as he scored the Grifone's consolation goal having picked up a short Frey clearance after the goalkeeper had blocked a shot from Borriello.
