Fiorentina squandered a two-goal deficit but ultimately fell 3-2 to QPR in a pre-season friendly at Loftus Road, with Nicolas Madsen and Boy Kemper putting the hosts ahead before Arthur Atta and Roberto Piccoli rallied the Viola; Fabio Grosso's side showed attacking promise and bench impact, but defensive lapses and set-piece discipline remain pressing concerns ahead of the Serie A campaign.
Fiorentina 2–3 QPR — Pre-season friendly verdict
QPR beat Fiorentina 3-2 at Loftus Road in a lively pre-season test that highlighted both the Viola’s attacking potential and their defensive vulnerabilities.
Nicolas Madsen converted a penalty and Boy Kemper added a low strike to put QPR 2-0 up, Arthur Atta pulled one back before half-time and Paul Smyth reestablished a two-goal cushion early in the second half. Roberto Piccoli’s late reply ensured a tense finish but not a comeback.
Scoreline and key facts
QPR 3–2 Fiorentina — Madsen 30' (pen), Kemper 39', Atta 45', Smyth 54', Piccoli 65'.
Venue: Loftus Road.
Competition: pre-season friendly. Fabio Grosso named a strong starting XI that included multiple new signings.
What happened: moments that mattered
Dodo’s foul in the box gifted QPR the opening penalty and Madsen made no mistake. Kemper’s strike from the edge of the area doubled the home lead and exposed clear space between Fiorentina’s midfield and backline.
Fiorentina’s response was blunt but effective: Alex Jimenez’s cross led to Atta scoring from a rebound on the stroke of half-time. The second half swung quickly when Paul Smyth capitalised on a disjointed defensive sequence.
Substitutes, notably Nicolo Fortini and Roberto Piccoli, injected fresh impetus — Piccoli’s header cut the deficit and underlined Fiorentina’s forward options off the bench.
Tactical takeaways
Fiorentina’s 4-3-2-1 starting shape aimed to combine width with central solidity, but transitions exposed gaps. The penalty and Kemper’s goal both came from breakdowns in defensive structure: poor spacing and delayed midfield screening allowed QPR to exploit pockets between lines.
Offensively, the Viola looked dangerous. Moise Kean and Albert Gudmundsson offered mobility, while Atta and Jimenez provided link play — evidence that Grosso has multiple attacking permutations to test.
Substitutions and squad depth
Grosso made wholesale changes at half-time, prioritising game minutes for squad players: Oliver Christensen, Pietro Comuzzo, Luca Ranieri, Giovanni Fabbian, Nicolo Fagioli, Rolando Mandragora and Piccoli all featured.
That rotation showed Fiorentina’s depth and the manager’s willingness to evaluate options, particularly in midfield creativity and the centre-forward role. Piccoli’s goal confirmed there is strike competition beyond Kean.
Why this matters for Fabio Grosso
This match was an early barometer of Grosso’s project. Offensively, his side can score and create under pressure; defensively, there is work to do on set-piece discipline, individual duels and midfield protection. The quick concession after restarting in the second half is a pattern Grosso must stamp out before Serie A tests arrive.
The match also provided a low-risk environment to assess summer arrivals and identify which tactical tweaks are urgent.
What to watch next
Grosso will want to tighten transitional defending and improve communication between his full-backs and central midfield. Expect training emphasis on defensive shape and set-piece organisation, plus further minutes for fringe players to determine rotation strategies. Early-season fixtures will be the true test of whether these pre-season lessons have been learned.
Line-ups (highlights)
QPR (4-3-3): Charles; Mbengue, Dunne, Edwards, Kemper; Madsen, Vale, Chair; Smyth, Burrell, Kone.
Fiorentina (4-3-2-1): De Gea; Dodo, Radu Dragusin, Viery, Jimenez; Christ Inao Oulai, Ndour, Marco Brescianini; Arthur Atta, Albert Gudmundsson; Moise Kean.
Bottom line
A spirited offensive showing and impactful substitutes offer optimism, but defensive frailties stole the headlines.
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For Grosso, the game was a useful diagnostic: the Viola can score, but they must defend better and sharpen cohesion if they are to turn pre-season promise into early-season points.
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