Days after their devastating defeat in the Coppa Italia final, Fiorentina return to Serie A duty on Saturday, seeking a win over top-four hopefuls Roma in their final home fixture of the season.

Returning to Stadio Artemio Franchi following their loss to Inter Milan in Rome, the Viola now welcome visitors from the capital - who are also set to play a European final in the coming days and can still qualify for the Champions League if results fall their way.

Match preview

With hopes raised by a third-minute strike from Nicolas Gonzalez at the packed Stadio Olimpico, Fiorentina fans may have allowed themselves to dream of a 22-year-long trophy drought finally coming to its end, but following a fierce Inter fightback they will have to wait at least a little while longer.

Despite taking the game to their fellow finalists, Vincenzo Italiano's side were ultimately undone by the ruthless brilliance of Inter's Lautaro Martinez, and their most recent silverware remains the Coppa Italia of 2001.

That could yet change soon enough, as Fiorentina recently saw off Basel to set up a Europa Conference League final with West Ham United in Prague next month, and such success in cup competitions has made up for a Serie A season bedevilled by inconsistency.

Following a 1-1 draw with Torino last weekend - when Luka Jovic was on the scoresheet in Turin - they are yet to even confirm a top-10 finish, being locked on points with both Toro and Bologna in mid-table.

Not only will picking his men up after a tearful conclusion to events on Wednesday prove a test of Italiano's credentials, but they have now followed a run of five straight wins in Serie A with just two from their last eight ahead of Roma's arrival in Florence.

However, Fiorentina are also unbeaten in their last seven home matches in the league - last going longer without defeat at Stadio Franchi back in 2017.

After Paulo Dybala's double earned them a 2-0 victory in January's reverse fixture, Roma have won six of their last seven Serie A games against Saturday's opponents, which may suggest they should be strong favourites to win the clubs' latest clash.

A side beset by injuries and distracted by their European exploits, though, are struggling to stay in the race for a cherished top-four finish and may instead have to rely on beating competition specialists Sevilla in next week's Europa League final in order to reach the Champions League.

Winless in their last six league games, only Sampdoria have picked up fewer points than Roma's meagre tally of four during that period, and before taking the road to Tuscany they have lost three of their last six away fixtures in Serie A - as many defeats as in their previous 14.

Last time out at Stadio Olimpico, the capital club had to rely on a late Nemanja Matic equaliser to deny Salernitana victory and salvage a 2-2 draw, and it is five years since they endured such a long streak without taking maximum points in the league.

As a result, they trail fourth-placed Milan by four points with only two rounds remaining; Juventus - now cast down to seventh by their latest points penalty - are behind Jose Mourinho's men by just one.

Beloved in the Giallorossi half of Rome, Mourinho has nonetheless steered his squad to a European final in successive seasons, and while rumours persist that Roma's final-day fixture against Spezia could be his last in charge, there is plenty left to play for between now and then.

Team News

Having heavily rotated his resources for last week's draw with Torino, Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano is likely to do so again on Saturday evening, in the aftermath of such a morale-sapping defeat in midweek.

Luka Jovic could replace Arthur Cabral up front, and the Serbian striker will be looking to score in back-to-back league games for the first time this season - he has found the net just five times in the top flight so far.

While Antonin Barak and Rolando Mandragora may both be brought into the hosts' midfield, Giacomo Bonaventura returns from Serie A suspension and is another contender; injured goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu will be the Viola's only absentee.

By contrast, Roma remain plagued by injuries, as star man Paulo Dybala joins Rick Karsdorp, Marash Kumbulla and Leonardo Spinazzola on the sidelines this weekend.

In addition, the midfield duo of Mady Camara (muscular) and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini (ankle) are also doubts for Jose Mourinho.

Tammy Abraham's loss of form has seen Andrea Belotti preferred up front in several recent games, though the latter has yet to score a single league goal for the Giallorossi since signing last summer.

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Dodo, Milenkovic, Igor, Terzic; Duncan, Mandragora; Kouame, Barak, Ikone; Jovic

Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Llorente, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Bove, Tahirovic, Zalewski; El Shaarawy, Solbakken; Belotti

We say: Fiorentina 2-1 Roma

For all their recent stumbles, Fiorentina have been beaten at home just four times in Serie A this season, and they can close out their Stadio Franchi campaign with a win. Roma will be mentally preparing for events in Budapest next week and have all but written off chances of a top-four finish.


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