FAREWELL SKIPPER
FIORENTINA paid an emotional tribute to Davide Astori before, during and after their 1-0 win over Benevento.
Their captain, 31, (top) passed away last week and fans and players paid their respects during colourful scenes.
Vitor Hugo scored the only goal of the game before grabbing a T-shirt with a picture of
Astori on it.
The match was stopped on 13 minutes, the shirt number that Astori wore, to allow for a minute’s applause.
Players from both sides broke down in tears before the game with Italian singer Jovanotti adding to the emotion as he performed one of his hits. Fiorentina fans displayed the name “Davide” in a huge banner tribute (above) while their players all wore Astori’s No.13 shirt in the warm-up. The stadium announcer also said “Number 13, forever our captain, Davide Astori” when introducing the teams. Fiorentina boss Stefano Pioli (left) said: “We came here to play and break the ice. It was the right thing to do it in front of our fans. It was an emotional day to say the least. “Not everything will go back to the way it was before. If I had a united group of players with Davide, I have an even more united one now.
“I wasn’t sure if it was the best idea to play today, but there were those who wanted to play. They are living in a situation which is bigger than they are.
“Astori was a central figure in everything we did. I was expecting what I saw on the field. The players are young and wanted to play well for Davide.
“It is inevitable that a young team plays better in a positive environment, now it is up to us to carry that forward, the think that Davide helped to start.
“I have never felt an atmosphere as united as I did today.”