After winning in midweek, Fiorentina need another victory against Frosinone to stay in touch with Roma at the top of the league.
It will be the first meeting between the two and both teams will be motivated to make this historic fixture at the Stadio Artemio Franchi one to remember.
Fiorentina are currently third, level on points with Napoli and Inter and only two points behind leaders Roma although the Viola have already lost to both the Partenopei and the Giallorossi.
However, Roma and Inter play each other on the same day and Fiorentina have a golden opportunity to go back on top. Frosinone on the other hand are 17th with 10 points after 11 matches, currently out of the relegation zone, albeit by only one point.
Fixture congestion is leaving some strain on Fiorentina. Davide Astori was injured against Hellas Verona in the last match and Marcos Alonso hasn’t yet recovered from the injury he suffered against Napoli.
Thus, Paulo Sousa can’t change much from his three-man defence. Gonzalo Rodriguez, Nenad Tomovic and Facundo Roncaglia will play, while Manuel Pasqual will play on the left once again.
One doubt for Sousa is whether or not Jakub Blasczcykowski will be fit. The former Borussia Dortmund player had some minor problems last match and probably he won’t be risked this time. One of Federico Bernardeschi or Gilberto are likely to take his place in the side.
Up front, Sousa can choose from both Nikola Kalinic and Khouma Babacar, with one of the two to be spared for next week’s Europa League match. Giuseppe Rossi is also fit and he impressed on Wednesday, but he is unlikely to start another match so soon after.
Frosinone are settling in Serie A. After a shocking debut to the league with four defeats in a row, the Ciociari managed to bounced back, drawing with Juventus and winning three of their last five matches, including Wednesday’s crucial relegation clash against Carpi.
Roberto Stellone, coach of Frosinone since 2012 and the architect of two back-to-back promotion with the Ciociari, can field his best XI against Fiorentina, minus Daniele Soddimo. The midfielder was sent off against Carpi and is suspended for this match. One of Alessandro Frara or Aleksandr Tonev is expected to take his place.
Austrian playmaker Robert Gucher is back from his malleolar injury and could play on Sunday, however Paolo Sammarco played very well in his place and may start once again.
Un front Daniel Ciofani and Federico Dionisi will try once again to win the day for Frosinone, as they have been doing for the past two years.
Form Guide: Fiorentina (W-L-L-L-W) Frosinone (W-L-W-L-W)
Expected Starting XIs:
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu, Tomovic, Rodriguez, Roncaglia, Blasczcykowski, Borja Valero, Badelj, Pasqual, Vecino, Ilicic, Kalinic
Frosinone: Leali, Rosi, Diakite, Blanchard, Crivello, Paganini, Chisbah, Gucher, Frara, Dionisi, Ciofani
Infographic courtesy of Sporticos.com
