Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has blamed bad luck for his team's 2-1 defeat to Catania this afternoon.

Viola lost more ground in the race for Champions League football as goals from Nicola Legrottaglie and Lucas Castro cancelled out Giulio Migliaccio's opener at Stadio Angelo Massimino.

Montella believes that his side played well and that they should not be disheartened by the result.

"Once again today the team played well, showed maturity and created many scoring opportunities," Football Italia quotes the 38-year-old as saying.

"We seemed to have the game in hand, but that is football. At the end Catania hurt us, but our idea of football must not change.

"I don't recall ever seeing such a period of bad luck and we have to hope the tide turns."

Fiorentina are sixth in Serie A.