Following a close escape in Europe, Fiorentina return to Serie A duty on Sunday evening, when they welcome Monza to Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Now through to the Conference League for a third straight season, La Viola have drawn all of their games so far, while Monza are awaiting their first league win since Raffaele Palladino left for Florence.

Match preview

After an eventful first leg left Fiorentina's Conference League playoff with Puskas Academy in the balance, with six goals being shared at Stadio Franchi, Thursday's return ended in a 1-1 draw that sent the tie into extra time.

A superb strike from Moise Kean had put the Viola in front, but after conceding a stoppage-time penalty they were required to come through another 30 minutes, some of which was played with just nine men following the dismissals of Luca Ranieri and Pietro Comuzzo.

In the subsequent shootout, David De Gea made a crucial save that allowed set-piece specialist Cristiano Biraghi to step up and convert the winner, sending Fiorentina through to a tournament that they have come so close to winning in both of the past two seasons.

Biraghi also baled his side out in their Serie A opener against Parma - securing a 1-1 draw with a spectacular free kick - before last week's stalemate with newly promoted Venezia left the Tuscan team winless after their opening two league games for the first time in five years.

New coach Raffaele Palladino is already under pressure to produce improved results, and fate now pitches him against his old club in Fiorentina's final fixture before international football intervenes.

Monza will meet up with their former boss aiming to post their first away win versus the Viola in either Serie A or Serie B, having lost their most recent game at Stadio Franchi 2-1 in May.

Palladino was still in charge on that day, but his otherwise impressive tenure ended on a down note, and new manager Alessandro Nesta has yet to get the Biancorossi fully firing either.

In fact, Monza have failed to win any of their last 11 league matches, losing seven, and they only scraped past Serie B Sudtirol in the Coppa Italia via a penalty shootout.

After a goalless draw at Empoli on the opening matchday, last week they lost 1-0 at home to Genoa despite totally dominating the ball.

Stretching back to last season, Monza have not scored in any of their last four league matches - already the club's longest such run since finally reaching the top flight in 2022 - and they have had the fewest attempts on target this term.

Their last win in Serie A came back in mid-March, so Nesta will be desperate to resolve his team's woes in the final third and end that drought this weekend.

Team News

Amid a busy schedule at home and abroad, Fiorentina boss Raffaele Palladino has welcomed some new signings towards the end of the transfer window, with German wing-back Robin Gosens and AC Milan midfielder Yacine Adli most recently arriving in Florence.

Captain Cristiano Biraghi is one goal involvement away from reaching his half-century in Serie A (15 goals and 34 assists so far), while summer signing Moise Kean will again aim to end his long top-flight goal drought.

Although he scored in both legs of the Viola's Conference League playoff, the Italy striker has failed to find the net in any of his last 25 league appearances dating back to April last year.

Meanwhile, fellow forward Albert Gudmundsson may miss out with a calf problem but Croatian centre-back Marin Pongracic returns from suspension.

Monza are still without goalkeeper Alessio Cragno - who is sidelined by a shoulder injury - and wing-back Patrick Ciurria (knee), while midfielder Jose Machin has just left for Frosinone. Furthermore, Stefano Sensi is a minor doubt.

Once again, veteran striker Milan Djuric will battle it out with Andrea Petagna to spearhead the visitors' attack, with Dany Mota and Daniel Maldini favourites to start in support of the lone frontman.

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terraciano; Martinez Quarta, Pongracic, Ranieri; Dodo, Richardson, Mandragora, Biraghi; Kouame, Colpani; Kean

Monza possible starting lineup:
Pizzignacco; Izzo, Mari, Caldirola; Birindelli, Bondo, Pessina, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Mota; Petagna

We say: Fiorentina 1-1 Monza

Sunday's game will bring together the team with most shots on target after two Serie A matchdays (Fiorentina, 15) and the side with fewest (Monza, three).

After a draining 120-minute match in Hungary, though, Raffaele Palladino's men may not be in sufficient shape to record their first league win of the season, with Monza standing firm to frustrate their former manager.


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