Fiorentina are back on top of the Serie A table after a 2-0 win away to Sampdoria, though Connall Shaw believes they’re really going to have to prove their worth after the International break if they want to be taken seriously as title contenders.
A banner held at the Stadio Artemio Franchi for all to see reads ‘Please don’t wake me up’ – something which confirms the state of euphoria that the city of Florence has been placed in since Paulo Sousa shocked all and steered their beloved Gigliati to the top of the league.
And who can blame them? This is the first time that they have sat top of the pack since the days of Gabriel Batistuta. In fact, if you’re in Florence right now you’d be crazy to not be stuck in dream-mode.
However, if the the club and it’s ever faithful fans want to remain in ‘dreamland’ then they’re going to have to demonstrate themselves in what could prove to be one of the most challenging run of games this year for La Viola.
So forget Inter, Roma and Napoli. It’s all about Empoli, Basel and Sassuolo.
These three names might not sound so threatening on paper, but in reality they’re all teams that can leave a huge dent in any teams aspirations.
The Viola will first host Empoli on the 22nd of November in the Tuscan derby. Their slippery Azzurri neighbours may currently occupy 14th place in the charts but they’re more than capable of dishing out blows to some of the league’s biggest giants, just ask Napoli.
Fiorentina didn’t fair too well themselves in last year’s Derby dell’Arno, the team then run by coach Vincenzo Montella were made to suffer a painful 1-1 draw, when frankly much more was expected of them. Add to the fact that they’re now in a much higher position than last year and you can begin to see that expectations will be much higher. Fans will except nothing less than an overwhelming win.
Just four days later Paulo Sousa’s men will make the long trip up to Switzerland to play Basel, the Portuguese tactician’s former club.
Things didn’t get off to such a good start for Sousa against his former employers in the reverse Europa League fixture, as his side fell to a shock 2-1 defeat. Fiorentina have since managed to get back on track, now sitting second in Group I, and a win against the Swiss side will not only propel them to the top of that group but it will also serve as a massive confidence boost before their final game of the week.
Bringing the run of games to a close is Sassuolo, whom Fiorentina will undoubtedly be wary of.
The Neroverdi represent the elite of the league’s small sides, having already beaten Napoli and Lazio whilst holding the Aquile’s city counterparts Roma to a credible 2-2 draw. Therefore it’s more than likely that this will be the game to truly test Fiorentina’s steel, and every single one of their players are going to have to be on the top of their game in order to stop Domenico Berardi and Nicola Sansone.
If they can sustain their form from their 2-0 victory against Sampdoria through the international break, all the way to this game in particular then the Viola may stand a chance of proving their worth to the rest of the peninsula.
Josip Ilicic and Nikola Kalinic ran the show away to Il Doria, who hadn’t been beaten in their last six games at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris prior to this fixture. The visitors, who donned their smartly pressed white shirts, played with a certain vigour and flair on top of their usual high pressing style, ultimately proving too much for the Blucerchiati who crumbled when pressurised.
With the same skill and determination Fiorentina may be able to do what Napoli and Roma have not done this season, that is being consistent. Time will only tell, though one thing is for sure – these games wont be a walk in the park.
