Fiorentina travel to face Europa League holders Sevilla in their semi-final first leg hoping to take something from the imposing Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
Despite involvement in three competitions, Fiorentina were on a roll in 2015 with just two defeats in 19 matches in all competitions. That changed when, having won 2-1 in Turin, they were turned over at home 3-0 by bitter rivals Juventus in the second-leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final.
Four straight league defeats followed but the Europa League has been their solace. A 1-1 draw in the Ukrainian capital and a 2-0 win in Florence saw the Viola dump out Dynamo Kiev from the competition and reach the last-four of a European competition for the first time since 2008.
Vincenzo Montella’s men return to winning ways domestically at the weekend with a convincing victory over struggling Cesena but ‘The Little Airplane’ will be in no doubt that Thursday’s encounter is a far more daunting task having been paired with reigning champions and favourites Sevilla.
The Spaniards have a love affair with the competition, first winning title in 2006 before becoming only the second side after Real Madrid in 1985 and 1986 to defend the trophy a year later.
If the bookies are to be believed, Sevilla are on course to repeat that feat after coming through a huge test in the quarter-finals against Andre Villas Boas’ Zenit Saint Petersburg. With the second-leg in Russia poised to go into extra-time, Sevilla’s supersub Kevin Gameiro scored with five minutes of regulation time left to send Unai Emery’s side through 4-3 on aggregate
A narrow defeat for Los Rojiblancos to Real Madrid at the weekend saw their impressive two-year domestic unbeaten home record end. However, that was Sevilla’s first defeat in 16, with 11 wins recorded and, not to mention the eight in a row – six this campaign – they’ve won at the Bombonera in the Europa League.
Montella’s charges though have been impressive away in Europe this campaign, where the Viola have yet to lose and have always scored. Fiorentina have faithfully stuck to their philosophy of attacking football home and away in the competition and have enjoyed more possession – 54 percent – and better passing accuracy – 88 percent – than any other semi-finalist.
Their hopes may rest on January arrival Mohamed Salah, whose pace and trickery has added an extra dimension to the side. Alberto Gilardino and Josip Ilicic look likely to drop to the bench with Mario Gomez and Joaquin returning after being rested at the weekend.
Sevilla will need to recover from the blow of losing Argentine Nicolas Pareja to a long-term injury. The 31-year-old centre-back ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament against Zenit and Frenchman Timothee Kolodziejczak, a summer signing from OGC Nice, should step into the void.
Both sides have scored 21 goals in this season’s competition but Carlos Bacca is in fine form. The Colombian has five goals in his last six outings and Fiorentina will have to keep him quiet to have any of reaching a first European final since losing to Juventus in 1990.
Form Guide: Sevilla (W-D-D-W-W-L), Fiorentina (D-L-W-L-L-W)
Expected Starting XIs
Sevilla: Beto; Tremoulinas, Kolodziejczak, Carrico, Coke; Mbia, Krychowiak; Vidal, Banega, Vitolo; Bacca.
Fiorentina: Neto; Tomovic, Basanta, G Rodriguez, Alonso; Borja Valero, Pizarro, Badelj; Joaquin, Salah, Gomez.
