Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has demanded an immediate response to his team’s shocking league loss at Lazio when they welcome his former club Roma tonight in the Europa League.

The Viola go into the all-Italian last 16 first-leg showdown at the Artemio Franchi stadium after seeing their 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions ended in a 4-0 reverse at Lazio on Monday.

The outcome in Rome was Fiorentina’s heaviest defeat of the campaign and dropped the side to fifth place in Serie A, eight points adrift of Roma.

“This is my worst defeat as a coach,” former Roma striker Montella told the Italian media.

“We deserved to lose. Lazio were far superior.

“We now must turn the page and hand a much better performance against Roma.”

Fiorentina have lost just once at home in Europe this season and will be hoping to replicate the form that saw them beat Roma 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico last month to progress to the Coppa Italia semi-finals.

Roma coach Rudi Garcia is desperate for answers after his team’s dismal performance in Sunday’s goalless result at Chievo.

The Giallorossi have won just one and drawn eight of their last nine league games to fall 11 points adrift of Serie A leaders Juventus and the Europa League is the only realistic option for Roma to get silverware this season.

“We have to work hard to put in a good performance against Fiorentina,” Garcia said.

“Normally after a bad performance you have to wait a week before you can get back out there, whereas we have a huge match at Fiorentina in the Europa League on Thursday (today).

“We will come up against a quality side who are on top form.”