Fresh from wins in Europe, two teams separated by three points in Serie A will clash at Stadio Franchi on Sunday evening, when Fiorentina meet Roma.
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The Viola have found top form since late September, while their rivals from Italy’s capital city are still searching for consistency.
Recent Performances
Despite conceding first on Thursday, Fiorentina maintained their flawless start in the Conference League. They overcame Swiss side St Gallen, having recently crushed 10-man Lecce 6-0 in Serie A.
With Jonathan Ikone netting a second-half double, they celebrated a 4-2 victory in Switzerland.
After a shaky start under head coach Raffaele Palladino, where they had three draws and one defeat, Fiorentina is turning things around. The Tuscan club has scored 14 goals in their last four outings, taking 10 points from the last 12 available in Serie A.
However, they have won only two of their last 12 league matches against Roma.
Roma’s Challenge
Roma faces its own historical challenges, having collected just one point from their last three visits to Florence. The Giallorossi also celebrated a win in Europe, with Artem Dovbyk scoring a penalty against Dynamo Kyiv.
This victory was vital for new boss Ivan Juric after a difficult start, including a loss to Elfsborg and a home defeat against Inter Milan.
Currently trailing behind their rivals, Roma has only 10 points in Serie A, their lowest total at this stage since 2010. Juric is on the brink of achieving 300 points in Italy’s top flight and will be eager to achieve this milestone on Sunday.
Team News
Fiorentina is likely to rotate their squad due to their busy schedule. Expect returns for Moise Kean, Dodo, and David de Gea. Robin Gosens, who scored as a substitute in midweek, may also return to the starting XI.
Meanwhile, they will be without Albert Gudmundsson, Rolando Mandragora, and Marin Pongracic due to injuries.
Roma’s absence list is minimal, with only Alexis Saelemaekers ruled out. Stephan El Shaarawy is close to returning, while Gianluca Mancini could also feature after an illness.
Juric may rotate his squad, with Paulo Dybala and Matias Soule pushing for starting roles alongside top scorer Dovbyk.
