Fiorentina climbed above Cagliari to revive their hopes of qualifying for Europe thanks to a comfortable win over Genoa.

Mario Santana put the Viola ahead in the fifth minute before a disputable penalty allowed Alberto Gilardino to double their advantage in the 73rd minute.

The first goal in Serie A for 17-year-old forward Khouma El Babacar rounded off the win in the 86th minute as Genoa continued their terrible form away from home to remain in seventh position, two points adrift of the top six and now only one ahead of Fiorentina.

Fiorentina had denied Genoa a place in the Champions League last season only because of a last-gasp equaliser in their tie in Liguria which earned them a superior head-to-head record.

Both sides are again in contention for a place in Europe next season and it could once again come down to results between the two sides.

After Genoa beat the Viola 2-1 at home last October, the home side wanted to improve on that to gain the upper hand and narrow the deficit in the league table to a single point at the same time, and they succeeded.

They were ahead after just five minutes with two neat backheels breaking open the Genoa defence.

Gilardino provided the first to send Massimo Gobbi to the bye-line and his low cross was slid past Genoa goalkeeper Marco Amelia with the next backheel from Santana.

Genoa were not in the game at all and Stevan Jovetic cut in from the left wing before sending his shot over the crossbar from 30 yard out.

The Fiorentina forward took the ball a little closer to goal for his next effort in the 34th minute which this time found the target, but was saved by Amelia.

Gobbi volleyed into the side netting just a minute before the break before the Genoa players headed down the tunnel for a severe dressing down from their coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

The coach's words worked with Raffaele Palladino's shot deflecting just wide and Salvatore Bocchetti volleying the ball over the crossbar from seven yards out from the resulting corner.

But Fiorentina had the chance to double their lead with Gobbi's shot tipped over by Amelia.

Jovetic then earned a penalty as he went down under the challenge of the Genoa goalkeeper.

The decision was harsh since the Genoa goalkeeper had managed to strike the ball first with his legs, but Gilardino was not complaining as he stroked in the spot kick for Fiorentina's second, although he had to fight for the right to take the penalty with Jovetic.

Genoa gave up and sent on a defensive player in Nenad Tomovic for Palladino.

Fiorentina still wanted a third, though, and coach Cesare Prandelli sent on Babacar, who only four days ago celebrated his 17th birthday.

And he got a belated present with his first goal in Serie A in the 86th minute, using his strength to hold off Bocchetti before cutting in from the left and placing his shot coolly beyond Amelia into the far corner to seal an emphatic win.