Fiorentina and Sampdoria clash at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Serie A on Saturday with both aiming to inhabit fourth place at full-time.
Former Fiorentina coach Sinisa Mihajlovic and ex-Samp striker Vincenzo Montella go head-to-head in opposite dugouts on the sidelines of a contest which could have a serious ripple effect on the remainder of the campaign for both clubs.
Last season’s corresponding fixture saw the Viola run out 2-1 winners, while the Blucerchiati have failed to overcome their Florence-based foes on their travels since September 2004.
Both sides have shown impressive form of late, with Fiorentina’s heavy 4-0 loss to Lazio the only blot on their copybook within the last 11 league outings. A 2-2 draw away to Udinese arrived just before the international break following a victory over AC Milan which allowed them to bounce back swiftly from the debacle at the Stadio Olimpico.
Sampdoria baost a four-match winning streak ahead of their trip to take on Fiorentina, having convincingly dismissed the challenges posed by Atalanta, Cagliari, Roma and Inter in quick succession. They’re also currently in command of fourth position in Serie A thanks in part to that solid run and will look to build upon their slender two-point advantage over Saturday’s opponents when they meet.
Gigliati forward Josip Ilicic must serve a one-match ban for his yellow card count, while long-term absentees Federico Bernadeschi and Giuseppe Rossi are out of contention. Additionally, defenders Stefan Savic and Manuel Pasqual are doubts and will have their respective muscular and rib problems evaluated.
Alessandro De Vitis, Ezequiel Munoz and Fabrizio Cacciatore are unlikely to feature for the visitors through injury, but Brazilian-born Italy forward Eder is expected to lead the line alongside Samuel Eto’o buoyed by a debut goal for the Azzurri against Bulgaria last week.
The hosts’ coach Montella will undoubtedly be seeking out ways in which he can maintain his players’ fitness with a view to their demanding upcoming schedule, which sees the Viola in action on no less than eight occasions throughout what could prove to be a defining month.
Form Guide: Fiorentina (W-D-W-L-W-D) Sampdoria (L-D-W-W-W-W)
Expected Starting XIs
Fiorentina: Neto; Tomovic, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Basanta; Joaquin, Aquilani, Badelj, Borja Valero, Alonso; Salah; Gomez.
Sampdoria: Viviano; De Silvestri, Silvestre, Romagnoli, Regini; Acquah, Palombo, Soriano; Muriel, Eto’o, Eder.
