Fiorentina vs Napoli Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
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With just a couple of match days left in Italy’s top-flight, both of these sides are still very much in the hunt for a top eight finish and potential European qualification this season.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 17th May, 2024 - UK – 19:45 / US EST – 14:45 / US PST – 12:45
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: This match will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK. / This match will not be televised live in the US.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: This match can be streamed live via the TNT Sports app in the UK. / It can also be streamed live via Paramount+ in the US.
FIORENTINA PREVIEW: EUROPEAN FINAL ON THE BACKBURNER
Vincenzo Italiano, linked with the AC Milan job, led Fiorentina to the finals of both the UEFA Europa Conference League and the Coppa Italia last season and they are once again in the UEFA Europa Conference League final against Olympiakos in a couple of weeks but, for now, I Viola must turn their attention to re-establishing some consistency in Serie A.
They did manage a much-needed 2-1 defeat of Monza at the Artemio Franchi last week. Milan Djuric opened the scoring after nine minutes before Nicolas Gonzalez’ first-half equaliser and then Arthur snatched all three points in the 78th minute. That victory came on the back of an inconsistent run of form across all competitions.
NAPOLI PREVIEW: SALVAGING A DISASTROUS CAMPAIGN
Napoli launched into the defence of their Serie A title in truly embarrassing fashion this season with Rudi Garcia, who president Aurelio Di Laurentiis more or less dismissed whilst still in charge, sacked before Walter Mazzarri was then let go. Francesco Calzona, the former assistant of Maurizio Sarri and the coach of Slovakia for UEFA EURO 2024, has not remotely improved things either.
The visitors were once again humbled at home last week as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bologna at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona with early goals being scored by Dan Ndoye and Stefan Posch. That means they have now managed just three victories in 15 matches across all competitions since Calzona took charge in mid-February.
FIORENTINA TEAM NEWS: A BATTLE FOR THE UECL ELEVEN
Vincenzo Italiano is in an awkward position where they will still be challenging in Serie A but will not want to risk too much ahead of the UEFA Europa Conference League final against Olympiakos. Striker Riccardo Sottil remains their only real injury concern.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Terracciano; Kayode, Martinez Quarta, Milenkovic, Parisi; Mandragora, Arthur; Gonzalez, Barak, Castrovilli; Nzola
UNAVAILABLE: Sottil (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
NAPOLI TEAM NEWS: ZIELINSKI STILL SIDELINED
With the UEFA European Championships not too far away, the Neapolitans’ main man in midfield Piotr Zielinski is in a race to be fit for Poland. He is sidelined with a thigh injury, whilst defender Mario Rui also remains unavailable.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan, Mathias Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Cajuste; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
UNAVAILABLE: Mario Rui (Injured), Zielinski (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
FIORENTINA VS NAPOLI PREDICTION
Serie A, due to the performance of the league in UEFA competition this season, will have eight teams in Europe next season and these two are in the battle for eighth place. Fiorentina leapfrogged Napoli the other day to move themselves into pole position and they can even confirm eighth with a victory here. Even though they have the backdoor entrance into the UEFA Europa League by beating Olympiakos in Athens in a couple of weeks, they would like to get the safety net out with a win here and they are favourites against one of the poorest defending champions ever, especially at home.
FIORENTINA VS NAPOLI TIP: FIORENTINA TO WIN
