Fiorentina return to Serie A action following the international break, fully aware that every point is crucial in their battle for European qualification. La Viola currently sit three points adrift of the top six, but they will be brimming with confidence after dismantling Juventus 3-0 in their last outing. Their next challenge comes in the form of title-chasing Atalanta, and another victory could significantly boost their European hopes.
History favors Fiorentina in this fixture, as only against Bologna (57) and Napoli (55) have they recorded more Serie A victories than against Atalanta (53). Furthermore, they have won three of the last five encounters in all competitions. However, head coach Raffaele Palladino will be wary of his team’s struggles against the league’s elite, having lost five of six Serie A matches against sides currently in the top four (W1).
Atalanta, meanwhile, travel to Florence looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against league leaders Inter Milan, which ended a seven-match unbeaten streak (W4, D3). That loss also snapped a run of five consecutive clean sheets, putting Gian Piero Gasperini’s men at risk of losing ground in the title race.
However, Atalanta’s away form has been outstanding, as they lead the league in points collected on the road (33). They have won their last four away matches while scoring at least twice in each, though only one of those victories came against a top-half opponent (4-0 vs. Juventus). With their Scudetto hopes hanging by a thread, they will look to continue their dominance on their travels.
Players to Watch: Fiorentina’s Robin Gosens has the opportunity to score in three consecutive Serie A home matches for the first time in four years, with both of his recent goals in that sequence coming inside the opening 15 minutes. On the other side, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman has proven to be a constant thorn in Fiorentina’s side, directly contributing to six goals in his four Serie A appearances against them (G4, A2), scoring in each match.
Hot Stat: Fiorentina have netted 75 goals in 40 matches across all competitions this season, averaging 1.88 goals per game – their highest scoring rate since the 1960s.
With both teams desperate for points in their respective races, expect a fiercely contested battle at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
