Nikola Kalinic scores hat-trick as Fiorentina edge eight-goal thriller

Nikola Kalinic grabbed a hat-trick as Fiorentina came from behind to thump Cagliari 5-3.

The hosts took the lead after just two minutes when Davide Di Gennaro headed Nicola Murru's cross home.

But Croatia striker Kalinic hauled Fiorentina level when he nodded in Cristian Tello's 20th-minute corner.

Two goals in five minutes from Federico Bernardeschi then turned the game on its head and Kalinic fired the fourth shortly before half-time.

Udinese 2-2 Fiorentina

Fiorentina twice came from behind to secure a point in a 2-2 draw at Udinese.

The hosts went in front after 26 minutes when Rodrigo De Paul picked out Duvan Zapata to slot home, but Paolo Sousa's side levelled moments later when Cristian Tello's pass was expertly back-heeled into the net by Senegal international Khouma Babacar.

Udinese regained their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Thomas Heurtaux's cross was met by Danilo at the back post.

But Federico Bernardeschi equalised from the spot...

Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez joins Fiorentina on season-long loan

Fiorentina have signed Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez on a season-long loan, friv100play .

The Serie A side have the option to buy 30-year-old Colombia international Sanchez at the end of the campaign.

Sanchez scored one goal in 55 appearances for Villa and was part of the side relegated from the Premier League last term

Fiorentina complete signing of Gheorghe Hagi's son from FC Viitorul

Fiorentina have signed Ianis Hagi, the son of Romania great Gheorghe Hagi, from FC Viitorul.

The Serie A club announced the arrival of Hagi, a forward who will be 18 in October, on their official website.

His father, the founder and owner of Viitorul, has been quoted as saying his son is a better player than he was at the same age.

Speaking to The Times last year, he said: "He has talent and all the mental qualities. He plays with emotion, he is generous, he works for the team.

"He can provide assists, he makes decisions quickly and he's good with both feet -- I was always on my left foot.

"He has a lot of work to do, of course, but he is growing all of the time. We need to polish him, but he is better than I was when I was the same age.

"He will be captain of Romania one day."

Ianis Hagi made 31 league appearances for Viitorul last season, scoring three goals, and has represented Romania at youth level up to the under-18s.

Manuel Pasqual signs for Empoli after Fiorentina exit

Manuel Pasqual made 17 Serie A appearances in 2015-16.

Empoli have signed former Fiorentina captain Manuel Pasqual on a two-year contract.

Left-back Pasqual, 34, had been released by La Viola after making over 350 Serie A appearances for the club he joined from Arezzo in 2005.

Fiorentina's Tuscan neighbours Empoli announced they had secured his services until the end of June 2018 in a tweet from their official account.

Chievo Verona 0-0 Fiorentina

Chievo and Fiorentina shared the spoils in a goalless draw as both sides failed to find the breakthrough at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.

Mauro Zarate had the best chance to break the deadlock with his second-half free-kick hitting the crossbar as Paulo Sousa's side extend their winless run to three games.

Having seen their Champions League qualification hopes dashed in recent weeks, La Viola remain fifth, holding on to the last Europa League qualification spot while the hosts sit in eight place.

Fiorentina angry after failing in appeal over Mauro Zarate suspension

Mauro Zarate (left) was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Jeison Murillo.

Fiorentina have hit out at the Lega Serie A decision to uphold the three-game ban handed out to Mauro Zarate for a recent red card.

The Viola contested the punishment after forward Zarate was sent off in the 2-1 win over Inter Milan on Feb. 14.

He was shown a straight red card after an off-the-ball incident with Jeison Murillo, but Fiorentina said he had been provoked and his ban should have been reduced.

But the Serie A court of appeal ruled against them, and a club statement said: "We have taken note of this decision with shock and anger.

"The appeal made by Fiorentina is based on the correct interpretation of the referee's report of the game, which in view of similar and perhaps more severe incidents -- in our view -- had seen appeals lead to a consequent reduction of a three-game ban into a two-game one.

"Zarate's gesture was down to the provocation, verbal and physical, of no fewer than four opposition players who surrounded him, pushing and shoving him, so much so the linesman had to intervene to protect our player.

"His reaction should have been considered in the context it was in, in a moment of intense emotion. We therefore feel that the sanction on Zarate is absolutely excessive."

Zarate sits out Fiorentina's important clash with Roma this weekend.

The two sides are level on points in the race for third position and a place in the Champions League next season.