Bologna v Fiorentina – Preview: Rossoblu look for return to winning ways

Date: 5th February 2016 at 12:45pm
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Fiorentina in a Serie A Derby dell’Appennino on Saturday evening that sees both teams looking to re-establish form that has slipped away a little.

The Rossoblu lost just their third game in nine at Frosinone in midweek, but are comfortably set in mid-table after their impressive revival under Roberto Donadoni.

Meanwhile the Viola have won just one of their last five away games, though are holding steady in third spot behind Napoli and Juventus.

This will be the 128th Derby dell’Appennino in Serie A, and not only have Fiorentina won the last three, but also 49 of the total to date, compared to Bologna’s 38.

However, just 14 of those victories came in away games, with the Rossoblu having won 25 of the games at the Stadio Renato dall’Ara or its predecessors.

Earlier in the season, Fiorentina were made to work for a 2-0 win, with the Felsinei holding out until the second half before Jakub Blaszczykowski and Nikola Kalinic settled matters. The Pole has not been a regular in the Viola team this season and is not certain to feature on Saturday.

The only injury doubts for Paulo Sousa are Milan Badelj and Marcos Alonso, though the coach himself will be completing a suspension during the clash.

Donadoni will have to cope without Alex Ferrari, with Luca Rossettini set to step in.

Archimede Morleo’s return to the side is likely to stop at just one game, with Adam Masina ready to return and Kevin Constant added to the left-back options. Mattia Destro is set to return to spearhead the Veltri’s attack, and requires just two goals to reach 50 in Serie A.

Sousa will likely take the opportunity to shuffle his pack, with Federico Bernardeschi and Manuel Pasqual pushing for starts in the midfield; Pasqual is just two games short of 300 for the Viola in Serie A, and will look to reach that mark at Inter next week.

Form Guide

Bologna (L-D-W-W-L) Fiorentina (L-L-W-D-W)

Expected Starting XIs

Bologna: Mirante; Masina, Oikonomou, Gastaldello, Rossettini; Brighi, Diawara, Taider; Giaccherini, Destro, Mounier.

Fiorentina: Tatarusanu; Astori, Rodriguez, Roncaglia; Pasqual, Tino Costa, Vecino, Bernadeschi; Borja Valero, Ilicic; Kalinic.

 

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