Fiorentina vs Napoli 10/02/19

10 February 2019

An improving Fiorentina team welcome Napoli to the Stadio Artemio Franchi looking to extend a six-game lossless run across all competitions (W3, D3).

Although unbeaten in their last four Serie A outings, the hosts have clinched just one triumph in the process, but they still have real chances of making it to the Champions League. Sitting five points behind fourth-placed AC Milan, the Viola need a victory to prevent the other UCL contenders from running away with a promotion. However, Fiorentina’s indifferent home form (W5, D3, L2) has seen them secure only one triumph in the previous six SA home games (W1, D3, L2). Just three teams have suffered fewer losses than Fiorentina (5) this term, but Stefano Pioli’s men have already played out ten draws, which is the joint-highest record in the Italian top flight and the main reason they currently sit below the European promotion territory. As for goals, four of Viola’s last five competitive clashes have produced over 2.5 goals, with Pioli’s players scoring over 2.5 goals per match three times in the sequence.

On the other hand, the visitors have taken full advantage of Juventus’ last weekend’s draw and currently trail the reigning holders by nine points. There’s no room for mistakes for Carlo Ancelotti’s crew, who enter this round with a four-game SA lossless run (W3, D1) during which they’ve scored seven goals while conceded three in the process. However, the current runners-up have struggled to score in their last two SA away games, collecting just one point in that period. Far more comfortable playing at home, only 37% of Blues’ total Serie A points came on the road. What’s more, all of Napoli’s three SA defeats arrived away from home, with the Partenopei failing to score in two. Although Ancelotti’s men scored 28 goals at home this campaign, they’ve failed to replicate the same performance on the road, bagging only 14 goals on 10 SA road trips so far.

Provisional line-up – Fiorentina:

Gk: Lafont Defense: Laurini – Pezzella – Ceccherini – Biraghi Midfield: Gerson – Veretout – Edmilson Fernandes Attack: Mirallas – Chiesa – Luis Muriel

Provisional line-up – Napoli:

Gk: Meret Defense: Mario Rui – Koulibaly – Maksimovic – Hysaj Midfield: Allan – Fabian Ruiz – Zielinski Attack: Insigne – Callejon – Milik