Embattled Fiorentina coach Paulo Sousa's woes continued after the misfiring Viola were held to a scoreless stalemate at home to Atalanta on Sunday.

Fiorentina were among the early season challengers to champions Juventus last season but with only three points from their last four Serie A outings the Florence-based club are well below mid-table position.

Fiorentina have a game in hand but are in 13th spot, 12 points behind leaders and champions Juventus, who have a five-point lead on second-placed Roma.

Injury to Slovenian international Josip Ilicic meant Sousa drafted in Khouma Babacar for a rare start at a sun-drenched Artemio Franchi stadium.

But despite creating a series of chances throughout, Nikola Kalinic notably coming closest for the hosts in both halves, the perfect playing conditions failed to inspire the hosts against a decidedly defensive Atalanta.

Croatia international Kalinic saw a rising drive fingertipped out from under the crossbar from a tight angle early in the match.

Atalanta had stunned Napoli 1-0 at home a fortnight ago when Andrea Petagna hit a precious winner, but the big striker was denied a tap-in from close range by Davide Astori's goal-line clearance.

Kalinic and then Hrvoje Milic spurned half-chances from promising positions, while Fiorentina 'keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu blocked Boukary Drame's finish from a tight angle with his leg.

Fiorentina moved up a gear after the restart but when Carlos Sanchez rose to meet a corner his bullet header was cleared off the line by Andrea Conti.

Atalanta saw Jasmin Kurtic's bouncing header come off the crossbar but Fiorentina spurned further chances, Atalanta 'keeper Marco Sportiello palming Matias Vecino's drive over the bar before parrying Cristian Tello's curling shot.

Kalinic, again, wasted a great chance for a late winner when he nodded just wide of Sportiello's upright from Federico Bernardeschi's cross.