What started in front of around 400 fans on a balmy Saturday in Pagani, as Paganese lost at home to Pro Patria on penalties, will come to a finale exactly nine months later, as Fiorentina face off against Napoli in the Coppa Italia Final.
It would represent the Partenopei’s fifth crown (bringing them level with Torino) and third in two seasons, while the Gigliati are gunning for their seventh, which would be a first since 2001.
With both side’s positions in Serie A fairly well assured, the final represents a last chance to finish the season with some silverware. For Rafael Benitez, it would be a first trophy as coach of Napoli, and vindication of his arrival at the Stadio San Paolo. In the other dugout, it would provide some validation for the work Vincenzo Montella has been carrying out in Florence, building the Viola with a collection of marquee signings and works in progress.
Something that is almost assured is that it will be an open game. Neither side has a particularly good reputation defensively, while both rank amongst Serie A’s top scorers. It is the scorers of those goals upon whom most of the pre-match focus will be on, as each side has a leading striker whose participation is in some doubt.
The Tuscan side hope to welcome back Giuseppe Rossi after a lengthy injury lay-off. The Italian striker was in prolific form before his knee injury, with 14 goals in his 18 games (including one in the game at the Stadio San Paolo) and is set to return to the squad in this showpiece event.
Meanwhile, his prospective partner Mario Gomez, whose season has also been punctuated with injury, is uncertain to feature after a knee problem of his own. He joins Neto and Gonzalo Rodriguez as injury doubts for Montella, while Juan Cuadrado will serve a suspension after a booking in the semi-final.
In the Neapolitan ranks, Gonzalo Higuain was stretchered off during last weekend’s game with Inter, and he too has a knee injury that renders his starting position in some doubt. He represents the main concern for a Partenopei who will be sporting a specially designed kit for the game, complete with red, green and white detailing on the collar. Macron’s production of the garment is limited to 1,926 to commemorate the year of the club’s foundation.
The two sides have met twice so far this season, with the away side coming away victorious each time. Recently, Fiorentina returned from Naples with all three points having secured a 0-1 victory courtesy of a late Joaquin header in an exciting game that ebbed and flowed one way and then the other.
The first game, at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, was something of a smash and grab by the Partenopei, Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens grabbing first half goals, before the game was somewhat overshadowed by the late dismissal of Juan Cuadrado, after the Colombian was adjudged to have dived late on to win a penalty, even though replays showed he was clearly tripped.
Napoli’s route to the final took in home victories against Atalanta and last season’s winner Lazio, before they faced a two-legged Derby Della Sole against Roma in the semi-final. A pulsating first leg at the Stadio Olimpico saw the Giallorossi surge into a 2-0 lead, only to be pegged back level by a Morgan de Sanctis own goal and Dries Mertens.
That set up a grandstand finish during which Gervinho clinched a victory for the home side.
The return leg a week later was something of a cakewalk for the Partenopei. After an early Callejon strike, Higuain grabbed a second just after half time to break Roman hearts, and Jorginho added a third almost immediately to ensure Napoli’s 10th Coppa Italia Final.
Fiorentina also overcame a local rival on their way to the final, beating Siena 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals, having previously disposed of Chievo Verona in their first tie. For the last couple of seasons, the Robur have lost to the eventual winners, so the Viola can lay claim to that harbinger this time around.
That victory earned Montella’s side a semi-final against Udinese. Just like their opponents this weekend, they lost the first leg, 2-1, but hit back in the second leg to reach their 11th final through Manuel Pasqual and Juan Cuadrado.
As part of the build-up to the game, both sides were invited to an audience with Pope Francis on Friday along with the match referees, and FIGC officials. The Pontiff is known to be something of a football fan, but he prefers Argentine side San Lorenzo to any Serie A outfit.
With both sides in relatively good form, we go into Saturday’s game with Napoli looking slight favourites. Benitez’s side have claimed a single point more than the Viola in their last six matches (11-10), suggesting the two teams are performing at a similar level. On the other hand, Fiorentina will be backed by almost 30,000 supporters and the previous meetings between the two suggest there is little to choose between them.
Two attack-minded sides, playing a cup final in front of a packed Stadio Olimpico, with both teams looking for their only silverware of the season… It promises to be a Coppa Italia Final to remember.
