Fiorentina host Lazio at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence in Sunday’s early Serie A kick off.
The Viola and the Biancocelesti are level on nine points on the Serie A table but Stefano Pioli’s side is in eighth place ahead of Vincenzo Montella’s team on goal difference.
Both teams are coming into this game on the back of victories. Fiorentina thrashed Inter 3-0 in Florence, while Lazio defeated Sassuolo 3-2 at the Stadio Olimpico in a dramatic contest that also saw two red cards.
Lazio won this fixture last season 1-0 thanks to an early Lorik Cana goal. The Gigliati have not defeated the Aquile in Serie A since the 2012-13 season in which the Tuscan side triumphed 2-0 in Rome.
Although both teams are sitting in mid-table after six rounds, they are far from where they want to be. Lazio missed out on qualifying for Europe this season after finishing ninth in 2013-14, with Fiorentina expecting to qualify again for Europe after two consecutive Europa League campaigns.
Biancocelesti coach Pioli will be facing one of the clubs that he used to play for. The former defender played 156 league matches for Fiorentina between 1989 and 1995, including 31 Serie B matches in the 1993-94 season.
Montella is predicted to drop Slovenian international Jasmin Kurtic and bring Spanish midfielder Borja Valero back into the Fiorentina starting line-up. Left-back Manuel Pasqual managed to get some playing time with Italy during the international break but he will remain on the bench for his club.
Pioli will likely stick with Serbian striker Filip Djordjevic, who scored in the Serie A wins against Palermo and Sassuolo, thus veteran centre-forward Miroslav Klose will be left on the sidelines. Lazio’s Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia is also not expected to start against La Viola.
Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez is still recovering from injury and he won’t be expected to come back for this match. Meanwhile, Lazio defender Dusan Basta is also out injured with a calf injury and teammate Lorik Cana is unavailable due to the red card he received against Sassuolo.
Expected Starting XIs
Fiorentina (4-3-1-2): Neto; Tomovic, Rodriguez, Savic, Alonso; Aquilani, Pizarro, Borja Valero; Fernandez; Cuadrado, Babacar
Lazio (4-2-3-1): Marchetti; Cavanda, De Vrij, Ciani, Radu; Onazi, Parolo; Candreva, Mauri, Lulic; Djordjevic
