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Played
September 25, 2012 7:45 PM BST
Stadio Artemio Franchi — Firenze
Referee:‬ P. Tagliavento‎
Attendance:‬ 21000‎
 

Fiorentina - Juventus Preview: The Old Lady face stern test against a revitalised Viola

The Bianconeri face-off against Vincenzo Montella's rejuvenated side, looking to extend their 43-match unbeaten run

By Alex Mott

Fabio Quagliarella - Juventus
Getty Images
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FIORENTINA

Fiorentina
Viviano
 Cassani, Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Tomovic
Pizarro, Cudardo, Valero

Fernandez, Jovetic
Toni
JUVENTUS

Buffon
 Lucio, Bonucci, Chiellini
 Lichst'ner, Pirlo, Vidal, Marchisio, Asamoah
Vucinic, Quagliarella

Juventus will look to make it five wins from five as they travel to Stadio Artemio Franchi to face a resplendent Fiorentina side.

After resting a number of key players for the match against Chievo last weekend, Antonio Conte could welcome back Andrea Pirlo, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Arturo Vidal to the starting XI.

Elsewhere, Lucio is set to keep his place at centre-back alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, whilst Fabio Quagliarella will remain up top after his goalscoring exploits against the Flying Donkeys.


Fiorentina meanwhile, are expected to name a relatively unchanged side from the one that drew with Parma on Saturday.

Vincenzo Montella will stay with Facundo Roncaglia at centre-back, partnering Gonzalo Rodriguez, whilst David Pizarro and Borja Valero will look to battle and create in the centre of midfield.

One change the Viola could make, will be to name Luca Toni instead of Haris Seferovic up front.


  DID YOU KNOW?
  • In the last meeting between the teams, Juventus hammered the Viola 5-0.
  • Juventus are the highest scoring team in Serie A so far this season, with 11 goals in four games.
  • At the other end of the pitch, their defence has conceded just 2 goals.
  • Conversely, Fiorentina have scored six and let in four goals so far in this campaign.
  • Vincenzo Montella could give Luca Toni his first start on Tuesday since re-joining the club in August. The last time he played in Florence, the 35-year-old bagged 31 goals in the 05-06 season.
  • Fiorentina have won two Serie A title in their history, the last coming in 1968-69;


Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Feb 9, 2013 Juventus 2 - Fiorentina 0
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Sep 25, 2012 Fiorentina 0 - Juventus 0
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Mar 17, 2012 Fiorentina 0 - Juventus 5
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Oct 25, 2011 Juventus 2 - Fiorentina 1
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Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Apr 17, 2011 Fiorentina 0 - Juventus 0
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Last Five Matches
Odds
Returns: Fiorentina £190.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £32.50 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Juventus £130.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
1Emiliano VivianoGoalkeeper
2Gonzalo RodríguezDefender
4Facundo RoncagliaDefender
23Manuel PasqualDefender
16Nenad TomovicDefender
26David PizarroMidfielder
11Juan Guillermo CuadradoMidfielder
20Borja Valero IglesiasMidfielder
92Rômulo Midfielder
8Stevan JoveticStriker
22Adem LjajicStriker
12Cristiano LupatelliGoalkeeper
89Neto Goalkeeper
3Ahmed HegazyDefender
15Stefan SavicDefender
16Mattia CassaniDefender
31Michele CamporeseDefender
11Ruben OliveraMidfielder
14M. FernándezMidfielder
-Cristian LlamaMidfielder
-Giulio MigliaccioMidfielder
-Haris SeferovicStriker
30Luca ToniStriker
1Gianluigi BuffonGoalkeeper
3Giorgio ChielliniDefender
15Andrea BarzagliDefender
19Leonardo BonucciDefender
26Stephan LichtsteinerDefender
21Andrea PirloMidfielder
22Kwadwo AsamoahMidfielder
23Arturo VidalMidfielder
24Emanuele GiaccheriniMidfielder
12Sebastian GiovincoStriker
27Fabio QuagliarellaStriker
30Marco StorariGoalkeeper
34RubinhoGoalkeeper
3LucioDefender
4Martín CáceresDefender
11Paolo De CeglieDefender
33Mauricio IslaDefender
6Paul PogbaMidfielder
8Claudio MarchisioMidfielder
39Luca MarroneMidfielder
9Mirko VučinićStriker
17Nicklas BendtnerStriker
32Alessandro MatriStriker
Players to Watch
Borja Valero Iglesias
Borja Valero Iglesias
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 20
Games Goals YC RC
37 1 4 0
The Spaniard, although only a recent signing, has already proved to be the creative heart of the Fiorentina midfield. His intelligent running and pin-point passes, have seen the likes of Stevan Jovetic and Matias Fernandez thrive this season, and expect him to produce the same skill and class again on Tuesday.
Fabio Quagliarella
Fabio Quagliarella
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 27
Games Goals YC RC
27 9 0 0
Quagliarella has been on superb form this season, scoring an equaliser against Chelsea in the Champions League, and then follwing that up with a brace against Chievo. Up against Cassani and Rodriguez, I can see the former Udinese man producing a performance to match those of recent weeks.
Prediction
Last season, the same fixture ended Fiorentina 0-5 Juventus. Don't expect the same one-sidedness this time, but do expect the Bianconeri to dominate the Viola. With Pirlo, Vidal and Lichtsteiner to return to the starting XI, the Old Lady will have enough to oversee the hosts' talented, but less dynamic midfield.
Editor's Prediction
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edinson  Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli
29 7
Antonio Di Natale Antonio Di Natale
Striker
Udinese
23 4
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo Pablo Daniel Osvaldo
Striker
Roma
16 2
Stephan El Shaarawy Stephan El Shaarawy
Midfielder
Milan
16 0
Germán Denis Germán Denis
Striker
Atalanta
15 5