Fiorentina host Portuguese team Belenenses at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence in their final Group I game of the Europa League on Thursday night.
Both teams go into matchday six with contrasting results in their domestic leagues. The Viola won 3-0 against Udinese on Sunday and they are now second in Serie A with 32 points after 15 rounds. O Belem, meanwhile, lost 3-0 at home to Vitoria Setubal on Saturday and they are 13th in the Primeira Liga after 12 rounds with 13 points.
The Tuscan side are second in Group I with seven points and the Lisbon-based club are bottom with five points but both teams have the opportunity to knock their opponents out of the Europa League.
Fiorentina can qualify with only a draw because of their head-to-head record with Lech Poznan but a victory won’t secure them top spot because of their inferior head-to-head record with group winners Basel.
Belenenses can qualify if they defeat the Gigliati but if Poznan manage to defeat Basel, goal difference and then goals scored will decide who qualifies for the Round of 32 along with the Swiss club.
This encounter will be a battle between the best attack in Group I and the group’s worst defence. Fiorentina have scored 10 goals in five games while Belenenses have conceded seven goals over that time. The Viola showed their attacking power against the Portuguese by beating them 4-0 in Portugal back in October.
O Belem will be playing on the Italian peninsula for the first time in a European fixture; the Gigliati have only lost three times in 11 matches against Portuguese opposition.
Facundo Roncaglia will not be available for Fiorentina on Thursday night because he was sent-off against Basel a fortnight ago and Jakub Blaszczykowski is out with a hamstring injury.
Belenenses have no key players missing but centre-back Palmeira is on the long-term injury list with a hamstring problem.
Form Guide: Fiorentina (W-D-D-D-W) Belenenses (W-L-D-L-L)
Expected Starting XIs:
Fiorentina: Sepe; Tomovic, Astori, Gonzalo Rodriguez; Bernardeschi, Vecino, Badelj, Alonso; Ilicic, Borja Valero; Kalinic
Belenenses: Ventura; Andre Geraldes, Tonel, Brandao, Filipe Ferreira; Ruben Pinto, Ricardo Dias; Fabio Sturgeon, Tiago Silva, Kuca; Leal
