Verdict: Draw
Best Odds: 13/5
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Desperate to widen their buffer over the drop zone on Sunday afternoon, Fiorentina will welcome Parma to Tuscany.
Fiorentina
Starting with the hosts, watching their domestic flurry come to an abrupt end earlier in the week as they slumped to a routine 3-0 drumming away at Udinese, Fiorentina will know the importance of claiming an immediate Serie A response here. Opening this weekend’s fixtures with just their goal difference keeping them outside of the relegation zone, Paolo Vanoli’s side remain at the heart of an infamous bottom-three scrap and they have come under a tremendous amount of pressure this season. However, springing a major upset on February 14th as they snatched a 2-1 victory away at Champions League chasers Como, the Viola will be dreaming of a repeat performance when his squad returns to Tuscany on Sunday afternoon. Pencilled in as a standout contender here, Vanoli’s camp will be bracing themselves for a must-win battle this weekend.
Fiorentina Team News
Shown what was a costly first-half booking against Udinese earlier in the week, former Empoli defender Fabiano Parisi will serve a one-match suspension here. However, missing out on Monday after serving his own respective one-game ban, Brazilian defender Dodo should be handed a full recall.
Completing a shock January loan switch from Premier League outfit Leeds, Jack Harrison should feature in the final third. Registering three goals in his previous four domestic appearances, Italian international Moise Kean will should plenty of Fiorentina’s goalscoring threat.
Parma
As for the visitors, although Parma might have endured a nightmare start to proceedings, Carlos Cuesta’s side have come roaring back in an eye-catching fashion. Receiving a string of plaudits from across Italy’s elite, the Crusaders find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high and they will be confident of making another public statement in Tuscany. Skyrocketing themselves away from their own respective relegation scrap, Sunday’s guests have remarkably notched 10 points from their previous four Serie A appearances and they are riding a major wave of momentum. Opening this weekend’s fixtures sat within touching distance of finding a route into the top-half, Parma shouldn’t be overlooked by any measure. In fact, Cuesta’s side have lost just a pair of their previous eight straight top-flight battles.
Parma Team News
All still dealing with respective injury issues, Parma will travel to Tuscany this weekend without the trio of Pontus Almqvist, Abdoulaye Ndiaye and Croatian starlet Matija Frigan here. However, coming off the bench and finding the net against Cagliari last weekend, Gaetano Oristanio could be handed a full recall.
Enjoying what has become a breakout campaign, one-time Manchester City youngster Adrian Garcia will start in the middle of the park. Returning from a domestic suspension last month, 22-year-old Mariano Troilo will partner Lautaro Valenti at the back.
Fiorentina vs Parma Key Factors to Consider
- When Fiorentina and Parma met for their reverse Serie A meeting on December 27th, Sunday’s guests collected a 1-0 victory at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.
- The Viola have registered just a single win from any of. Their previous six straight showdowns in Tuscany across all fronts.
- Parma have remarkably registered 10 points from their previous four Serie A appearances.
- Likewise, the Crusaders have lost just a pair of their previous eight Serie A matchups – a run that stems back to January 7th.
- Italian international Moise Kean has registered three goals in his last four domestic appearances.
Conclusion
While Fiorentina might open Sunday’s showdown pencilled in as a standout contender, the Viola should be bracing themselves for a rugged examination. Hit with a 1-0 loss when they travelled to the Stadio Ennio Tardini for their reverse Serie A showdown on December 27th, Parma are enjoying what has become a major purple patch. Registering 10 points from their last four top-flight battles and remarkably sat within touching distance of breaking into the top-10, the Crusaders will certainly cause some real headaches.
Verdict: Draw
Best Odds: 13/5
Bookmaker: Dachbet