Fiorentina vs Napoli – Serie A – Preview

Posted on February 28, 2016 by Sreya

Napoli travel to Artemio Franchi, Florence as they take on Fiorentina in an eagerly anticipated Serie A clash on 29th February, Monday. The two in-form Italian clubs who are separated by five points only are both expected to finish in the top four of the league standings.

Napoli are on fifty seven points with seventeen wins, a solitary point behind league leaders Juventus who play a day earlier. Fiorentina sit on the fourth position with fifty two points from sixteen wins.

Napoli are winless in their last two matches, losing 1-0 to Juventus prior to their 1-1 draw against AC Milan in the previous match. Fiorentina, meanwhile, won a close match against Atalanta 3-2.

Team News

Yohan Benalouane is sidelined with an injury for Fiorentina while Mauro Zarate is suspended. Ivan Strinic is doubtful for Napoli. Marek Hamsik is likely to be rested but might still be a part of the matchday squad.

Fiorentina Possible Starting Lineup: Ciprian Tatarusanu, Facundo Roncaglia, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Davide Astori, Marcos Alonso, Matias Vecino, Borja Valero, Federico Bernardeschi, Josip Illicic, Cristian Tello, Nikola Kalinic.

Napoli Possible Starting Lineup: Pepe Reina, Elseid Hysaj, Raul Albiol, Kalidou Koulibaly, Faouzi Ghoulam, Allan, Jorginho, Marek Hamsik, Lorenzo Insigne, Gonzalo Higuain, Jose Callejon.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, Napoli has won five and lost only one of the last six encounters between these two clubs. Although Fiornetina have won five out of their last six league fixtures, Napoli are undefeated in twenty three of their previous twenty five Serie A matches.

The visitors are likely to win on Monday, with a 2-1 result being the most probable outcome.

“All the players are doing well and have recovered from their Europa League exertions. As for these games against Napoli and Roma, we have to see it as positive pressure. They’re teams who are expected to be up in the top positions whereas we’ve created this opportunity for ourselves with the work we’ve done since the start of the season.

We need to seize this opportunity and keep performing as we have up until now. We want to be able to mix it with sides who are expected to challenge for the title and the Champions League spots because of what they spend year on year.

We have to show the same enthusiasm we’ve shown up to now in competing with the best. We must keep preparing for games in the same way, with the same playing philosophy, as it’s got us to where we are now.”

– Paulo Sousa, Fiorentina.