Atta and Piccoli on target as Fiorentina fall to 3-2 friendly defeat against QPR

Atta and Piccoli on target as Fiorentina fall to 3-2 friendly defeat against QPR Goals from Arthur Atta and Roberto Piccoli were not enough for Fiorentina to avoid defeat against EFL Championship side QPR in a pre-season friendly at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon. The Viola were in London for a pre-season test against QPR: Their first real test under recently-appointed head coach Fabio Grosso. They had also beaten Serie C outfit Gubbio in a training ground friendly at Viola Park earlier this week. Grosso went with a relatively strong line-up at Loftus Road, starting all five of his new summer signings: Radu Dragusin, Viery, Alex Jimenez, Atta and Christ Inao Oulai. It was a strong Fiorentina attack as well, featuring both Moise Kean and Albert Gudmundsson. Click here to read more about how today’s teams lined up. FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) The deadlock was broken by the hosts after half an hour: Dodo was penalised inside his own area and Nicolas Masden punished him from the penalty spot. Boy Kemper doubled QPR’s advantage with a well-taken shot from the edge of the area in the 39th minute. Fiorentina fought back before the interval, halving the deficit on the stroke of half time: Jimenez crossed in for Atta, who saw his initial shot saved but made no mistake from the follow-up. Grosso made wholesale changes at the interval, introducing Oliver Christensen, Pietro Comuzzo, Luca Ranieri, Giovanni Fabbian, Nicolo Fagioli, Rolando Mandragora and centre-forward Piccoli. Dodo, Marco Brescianini, Jimenez and Gudmundsson were the only players who stayed on beyond half-time. FLORENCE, ITALY – OCTOBER 26: Nicolo’ Fagioli of ACF Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Bologna FC 1909 at Artemio Franchi on October 26, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) Northern Ireland international Paul Smyth restored QPR’s two-goal advantage less than 10 minutes into the second half, but Piccoli brought one back after a ball in from second-half substitute Nicolo Fortini. QPR 3-2 Fiorentina Masden (Q) 30’, Kemper (Q) 39’, Atta (F) 45’, Smyth (Q) 54’, Piccoli (F) 65’. FLORENCE, ITALY – APRIL 26: Fabio Grosso manager of US Sassuolo looks on during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Sassuolo Calcio at Artemio Franchi on April 26, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) Line-ups QPR (4-3-3): Charles; Mbengue, Dunne, Edwards, Kemper; Madsen, Vale, Chair; Smyth, Burrell, Kone. Fiorentina (4-3-2-1): De Gea; Dodo, Dragusin, Viery, Jimenez; Oulai, Ndour, Brescianini; Atta, Gudmundsson; Kean.