Europa boost for Fiorentina

Fiorentina made sure they will play Europa League football next season after a 1-0 win at relegated Livorno.

Fiorentina made sure they will play Europa League football next season after Juan Cuadrado's goal saw them claim a 1-0 win that secured fourth place in the Serie A table and relegated Livorno. Colombia international Cuadrado scored a follow-up tap in just before the hour mark at the Stadio Armando Picchi to notch the only goal of the game against La Viola's Tuscan rivals. Livorno finished the game with 10 men after Miguel Borja was shown a red card for a foul on Alberto Aquilani in the third minute of stoppage time. The visitors had the lion's share of the chances in the first half, with Cuadrado denied by Livorno keeper Luca Anania in the second minute before Aquilani's 30-yard effort went inches wide of the left post. Livorno had a good opportunity to score in the 27th minute when Luca Siligardi surged into the box from the right wing and found Ishak Belfodil, but the Algerian's close range header went over the bar. At the other end, Josip Ilicic saw his free-kick go high over the bar before Djamel Mesbah's header was a weak effort which was easily saved by Antonio Rosato. After the break, the home side went close when Silgardi's strike narrowly crept over the bar and they were left to rue their chances when Cuadrado finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute. The midfielder received a great ball from deep by Giuseppe Rossi and ran into the box where he pulled the trigger. Anania made the save but the Fiorentina man was on hand for the follow-up. Rossi then squandered a chance set up by Cuadrado with Livorno's Emerson going close with a 25-yard free kick as the clock ticked down. Tempers boiled over in stoppage time as Borja was shown a straight red card for fouling Fiorentina midfielder Aquilani with Livorno's fate already sealed.