Fiorentina host Inter at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday night in Serie A, in a vital encounter for both sides as they battle for qualification for next seasons Champions League.
The Viola drew 1-1 with Bolonga at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara last time out with rising star Federico Bernardeschi getting on the score-sheet, while new loan signing Cristian Tello claimed an assist for the goal.
Paulo Sousa’s men are currently third in the standings on 46 points after round 24, ten points off Napoli at the top and eight behind Juventus in second. Crucially though, they sit one point ahead of Sunday’s opponents Inter in fourth, and boast the second best home record in Serie A this term with nine wins, one draw and two defeats, while averaging over two goals a game on home soil so far this season.
The Nerazzurri, meanwhile, could only manage a 3-3 draw away to bottom side Hellas Verona last Sunday afternoon, coming from 3-1 down to claim a point.
Roberto Mancini’s side sit in fourth in the table on 45 points after round 24, and have claimed victory in just one of their last six games in Serie A. The Milanese giants do have a decent away record so far this term, with six wins, four draws and only two defeats to date, with their last victory away from the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza coming against Empoli via a scoreline of 1-0 in early January.
When the two sides met earlier in the season the Viola ran out 4-1 winners at the San Siro, with Fiorentina’s top-scorer on ten goals Nikola Kalinic bagging a hat-trick on the night, while the Gigliati also won both fixtures last term, 3-0 at the Stadio Franchi and 1-0 in Milan.
Since the 2005/2006 season the sides have met on ten occasions in Florence with the Viola only winning three, while the Nerazzurri have come away with four victories with the other three fixtures ending level.
In team news, the home side will be without suspended midfielder Matias Fernandez, while defender Marcos Alonso and midfielder Tino Costa are slight doubts for the fixture. Kalinic is expected to lead the line for the Viola with Tello and Josip Ilicic just in behind in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Il Biscione are expected to line-up in a 4-4-2 formation, but will be missing midfielder Filipe Melo due to a one match suspension, while striker Stevan Jovetic is a doubt with a thigh problem. Defender Miranda is expected to return to the side after serving a one match suspension against Verona.
Inter’s ten goal top-scorer Mauro Icardi will be hoping to make it three games on the trot to get his name on the score-sheet after strikes against Chievo and Verona in his past two outings.
Form Guide: Fiorentina (L-W-D-W-D) Inter (D-L-L-W-D)
Expected Starting XIs:
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu; Astori, Rodriguez, Roncaglia; Bernardeschi, Vecino, Borja Valero, Alonso; Tello, Ilicic; Kalinic.
Inter: Handanovic; Nagatomo, Miranda, Murillo, Telles; Biabiany, Medel, Kondogbia, Perisic, Icardi, Eder.
Infographic Source: www.sporticos.com
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com