Fiorentina will be looking for maximum points to start 2016 when they take on Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera on Wednesday afternoon.
The Viola are third in Serie A, only one point off the summit, and will be eager to start the new year how they ended the last having produced a dominant 2-0 win at home to Chievo.
The victory returned Paulo Sousa’s men to the winners’ circle following successive defeats in the space of one week to Juventus and Carpi, prior to which they had enjoyed a nine-match unbeaten streak.
A win would see Fiorentina jump into first position, providing an opportunity to place additional pressure on Inter and Napoli ahead of their respective evening fixtures.
Hosting the Gigliati are a struggling Palermo outfit who sit down in 16th position, just four points outside of the relegation zone.
Since taking over the reins in November, coach Davide Ballardini has registered just one victory in six matches and will feel the pressure to begin the year with some positive results.
However up against the season’s best attack who have netted 33 goals thus far, the former Bologna coach will be looking for a mistake-free performance from his team and clinical finishing from his attacking arsenal.
Franco Vazquez is set to be central to creating opportunities for the Sicilian outfit who are still suffering from the departure of Paulo Dybala, having scored 10 fewer goals than last season at this stage.
And if last season’s meetings are anything to go by, the need for form in front of goal is highlighted by the fact the teams traded a total of 12 goals in their respective home and away fixtures.
Fiorentina were victorious in both legs winning 4-3 in Florence and 3-2 in Sicily with Alberto Gilardino netting for the Viola in the latter, despite now standing as the Aquile’s top goalscorer.
In fact, the last time Palermo beat their opponents was back in November 2011 when Josip Ilicic scored their second in a 2-0 victory, before transferring to Florence.
The home side’s defense will start their first Serie A match this season without Giancarlo Gonzalez who is serving a one match suspension and will look to 22-year-old Edoardo Goldaniga to take a leadership role in the centre of defense.
Meanwhile Sousa will have a full squad at his disposal with Ilicic, Borja Valero and Nikola Kalinic likely to lead an aggressive line as they look to take advantage of the Rosanero’s weakened defensive line.
Form Guide: Palermo (L-L-L-W-L) Fiorentina (W-W-L-L-W)
Expected Starting XIs:
Palermo: Sorrentino; Struna, Goldaniga, Andelkovic, Rispoli, Lazaar; Hiljemark, Jajalo; Vazquez; Trajkovski, Gilardino.
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori; Bernardeschi, Vecino, Badelj, Alonso; Ilicic, Borja Valero; Kalinic.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com