Fiorentina host Roma on Sunday night at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Serie A with a place in the top three now firmly in their sights.
The Viola are currently sixth, just three points off Napoli in third after a run of just one defeat in their last eight matches after a difficult start to the season which saw them win just three of their first eleven games.
Vincenzo Montella’s side have won their last two in Serie A, the latest coming thanks to a late winner from top scorer Khouma Babacar at Chievo last Sunday, and a brace from Mario Gomez on Wednesday saw them defeat Atalanta 3-1 in the Coppa Italia to set up a meeting with this weekend’s opponents in the quarter-finals.
Despite being unbeaten in their last nine matches, Roma are now five points behind the current champions after a stuttering run of four draws in six games, but did manage an extra-time victory over Empoli in the Coppa Italia in midweek courtesy of a late Daniele De Rossi penalty.
The Giallorossi need to start turning draws into victories if they are to mount a serious pursuit of leaders Juventus, and will take heart going into this game from their impressive record against Sunday’s hosts.
Roma have beaten Fiorentina in five of the last six meetings between the sides, including all of the last four and came away from Florence with a 1-0 victory in each of the past two seasons, as well as a 2-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico in August.
They will have to do without their goalscorer from that day Gervinho again this weekend though as he is on African Cup of Nations duty along with midfielder Seydou Keita, while Ashley Cole is a doubt after picking up a head injury against Empoli.
Rudi Garcia is expected to make five changes from the side that drew at Palermo last time out in Serie A last Saturday, with Kostas Manolas, Maicon, Daniele De Rossi, Radja Nainggolan and Francesco Totti expected to replace Davide Astori, Alessandro Florenzi, Kevin Strootman, Leandro Paredes and Mattia Destro.
Fiorentina are still without the suspended Stefan Savic and the injured Alberto Aquilani, while goalkeeper Norberto Neto will again miss out at the expense of Ciprian Tatarusanu after announcing his intention to leave the club.
New signing Alessandro Diamanti is still not ready to make his debut, but David Pizarro is likely to replace Milan Badelj in midfield after regaining full fitness.
Form Guide: Fiorentina (D-W-D-L-W-W) Roma (D-W-D-W-D-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu, Tomovic, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Basanta, Joaquin, Matias Fernandez, Pizarro, Borja Valero, Pasqual, Cuadrado, Gomez
Roma: De Sanctis, Maicon, Manolas, Yanga Mbiwa, Holebas, Pjanic, De Rossi, Nainggolan, Iturbe, Totti, Ljajic
