Europe » Italy

Serie A Preview: Fiorentina – Parma

The Viola will host the Gialloblu in what should be a cracking encounter…

Nov 20, 2009 3:00:00 PM

Juan Manuel Vargas - Udinese-Fiorentina - Serie A (Getty Images)

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Juan Manuel Vargas - Udinese-Fiorentina - Serie A (Getty Images)

Teams

Players

Kick-off: Saturday, November 21, 20:45 CET, Stadio Artemio Franchi

The Viola Are Starting To Bloom

Fiorentina are sitting pretty in fourth spot in the domestic table and their Champions League adventure is progressing smoothly as well. Cesare Prandelli’s men are well positioned to qualify for the knockout stages after a win over Liverpool was followed up by consecutive victories over Debrecen.

The Viola made a sparkling start to the Serie A season by dropping only one of their first eight matches. They proceeded to lose two straight games at the end of October before picking up victories over Catania and Udinese ahead of the international break.

Prandelli will no doubt be pleased with the victory over the Zebrette as Juan Manuel Vargas scored the only goal of the match and Sebastian Frey preserved the victory with a heroic save from Antonio Di Natale in the dying moments of the match.

Next up for Fiorentina are Parma who will pay a visit to the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Saturday evening and Prandelli will have a few selections headaches as Adrian Mutu and Alessandro Gamberini will miss out while young Montenegrin star Stevan Jovetic will be a game-time decision.

Fiorentina will be favoured to win the match but Parma will be no pushovers as they sit only one point behind the Viola and should push the home side to the limit.

Parma Exceeding Expectations

Parma have been one of the surprise packages of the Serie A season as they sit in seventh place after 12 rounds. Coach Francesco Guidolin has built a squad of wily veterans mixed in with some dynamic youngsters to achieve the Gialloblu’s lofty position in the table.

Parma have exceeded the wildest expectations of their supporters and have a plausible chance of clinching a spot in Europe before the season’s end. They have won two out of their three last matches including a 2-0 victory over Chievo just before the international break.

Guidolin was ecstatic about the victory over the Flying Donkeys and hoped that the team would be able to continue their dream start.

“We are halfway to 40 points and are delighted at this. Everything we have reaped so far has been the fruits of hard work and merit,” he stated. “Today we should enjoy the moment as the win has come before the international break, and we can rest in tranquillity.

“Moving forward, I am delighted to have such an extraordinary group that has enabled the city to start dreaming again.”

Parma face a daunting task though as they will travel to Tuscany to take on Fiorentina who have only lost one match at home this season. A win for Parma and Guidolin can keep dreaming for another week at least.

TEAM FORM

Fiorentina

November 08 v Udinese (A) WON 1-0 (Serie A)

November 04 v Debrecen (H) WON 5-2 (Champions League)

November 01 v Catania (H) WON 3-1 (Serie A)

October 28 v Genoa (A) LOST 2-1 (Serie A)

October 25 v Napoli (H) LOST 1-0 (Serie A)

Parma

November 08 v Chievo (H) WON 2-0

October 31 v Milan (A) LOST 2-0 (Serie A)

October 28 v Bari (H) WON 2-0 (Serie A)

October 25 v Atalanta (A) LOST 3-1

(Serie A) October 18 v Siena (H) WON 1-0 (Serie A)

TEAM NEWS

Fiorentina

Prandelli will be missing a couple of first team regulars in Adrian Mutu and Alessandro Gamberini who are out injured while Riccardo Montolivo is serving a suspension. Stevan Jovetic will have to pass a late fitness test to feature.

Possible starting XI: Frey – Comotto, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Gobbi – Zanetti, Donadel – Marchionni, Jovetic, Vargas - Gilardino

Parma

Alberto Paloschi, Stefano Russo, Andrea Pisanu, Luca Antonelli and Alessio Manzoni will all miss the match due to various injuries.

Possible starting XI: Mirante – Zaccardo, Panucci, A.Lucarelli, Castellini – Mariga – Morrone, Dzemaili, Galloppa – Amoruso, Bojinov

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina)

With Mutu sidelined and Jovetic a game time decision, the scoring load with fall upon Gilardino’s shoulders on Saturday evening. The Italian international will be fired up to play his old team and should be able to find the back of the net to add to his four goal tally in Serie A this season.

Valeri Bojinov (Parma)

With Alberto Paloschi out for the count, it will be up to the former Viola striker to lead the front line against his old team. Bojinov has received a new lease of life in the Serie A and is one of the reasons why Parma currently sit comfortably in the top half of the table.

PREDICTION

The Viola are missing some first team regulars but possess enough firepower to pick up a positive result against the visitors. Gilardino leads the charge with a brace as the Viola pick up all three points on Saturday evening.

Fiorentina 2-1 Parma

Max De Luca, Goal.com

Thank you for your comment!

Please enter your name

Please enter your location

Please share your comment!