After four consecutive Serie A victories, Fiorentina host Atalanta in what is a crucial game to further test the Viola’s consistency.
Fiorentina demolished Inter last Sunday, overtaking the Nerazzurri and displaying themselves to be a genuine threat for the title. Despite this, Atalanta have also rediscovered their form and will prove to be a difficult task.
On Monday night Edy Reja’s team beat an in-form Sampdoria side 2-1, lifting them up to the eighth place in the table.
Captain of Atalanta, German Denis, is an important factor in the club’s attempts to avoid relegation., but Fiorentina remains either way a better side. Also, the Viola have won all their games at home so far in Serie A, turning the Stadio Artemio Franchi into a fortress. And after the incredible display against Inter, the Gigliati are easily the favourites.
An external factor could be Fiorentina’s Europa League game on Thursday, with coach Paulo Sousa having to rotate the squad to take the most out of both encounters. Atalanta could try make the most of the extra rest and put the game on the physical side.
Sousa has surprised with his team choices, but after Sunday’s game it is likely that Nikola Kalinic will start as number 9 again, with the three at the back also being confirmed.
Milan Badelj and Matias Vecino impressed in midfield and are likely to start again with in form Marco Alonso on the left and Kuba Blaszczykowski on the right.
As for Atalanta, Reja will want his team to be compact and to concede little, while also using the flair of Alejandro Gomez and Maxi Moralez to create chances.
La Dea have so far scored in every game apart from during their visit to Inter, and will therefore try to be careful at the back and keep a clean sheet in order to win this game. Gabriel Paletta and Rafael Toloi should be confirmed as the two central defenders.
Jasmin Kurtic returns to the Franchi and him and Luca Cigarini will have the hardest job against the technical midfield of Fiorentina. Their game will be crucial if Atalanta are to do well.
Form Guide: Fiorentina (W-L-W-W-W) Atalanta (D-D-W-L-W)
Expected Starting XIs:
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu, Tomovic, Rodriguez, Astori, Blaszczykowski, Badelj, Vecino, Alonso, Borja Valero, Bernardeschi, Kalinic.
Atalanta: Sportiello, Drame, Toloi, Paletta, Bellini, Kurtic, De Roon, Cigarini, Gomez, Pinilla, Moralez
