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Serie A Preview: Fiorentina - Milan
Both sides would be looking to bounce back from last weekend's defeats.....
| Bet: | Returns: | Parma £23.75 | Draw £31.00 | Fiorentina £30.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Parma £23.80 | Draw £31.00 | Fiorentina £31.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Parma £23.00 | Draw £30.00 | Fiorentina £32.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Parma £23.00 | Draw £32.00 | Fiorentina £32.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Parma £23.40 | Draw £31.00 | Fiorentina £28.50 |
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Dec 18, 2009 3:00:00 PM
Kick-Off: Sunday, December 19, 2009, 20:45 CET.
Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence.
Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence.
Wings Clipped By The Flying Donkeys
Fiorentina appeared to be picking up form both in Italy and in Europe until last weekend when they were somewhat surprisingly defeated 2-1 by Chievo in Verona. They had been steadily approaching the form that propelled them to finish in the top four in the Italian top flight for the past couple of seasons but their wings were clipped in Verona.
Nevertheless, the Viola do have the resources and the mentality to bounce back. They slipped down to ninth in the table, four points off a Champions League spot, but coach Cesare Prandelli will certainly be motivating his players to try to step up for the big game on Saturday.
Fiorentina's home record in the league so far this campaign looks good with five wins in eight games, having conceded just five times. They also have the joint second best defensive record in Serie A, having shipped only 15 goals in 16 matches.
Is This The Start Of Milan's Deflation?
Milan hadn't lost a game in any competition since September 30 until they were demolished 2-0 at home by Palermo on Sunday. That defeat pushed the Rossoneri to five points behind city-rivals and current league leaders Inter but they remain second in the standings.
Leonardo's side had been on a run of five successive league victories and although the quality and depth in Serie A is such that teams are capable of taking points off one another, a 2-0 loss in front of their own fans did come as a surprise. Milan were good in the first half against Palermo with Ronaldinho putting in a number of good balls for Marco Borriello, whose shooting was wayward, but two quick goals from the Sicilians in the second period flattened the Rossoneri's tyre.
It will be interesting to see how Milan respond to the defeat. There is a suspicion that the loss could just deflate this aging Diavolo side and a defeat to Fiorentina just before the winter break could dampen Milan's Christmas hopes and burst their bubble.
FORM GUIDE
Fiorentina
December 13 v Chievo (A) - LOST 2-1 (Serie A)
December 9 v Liverpool (A) - WON 2-1 (Champions League)
December 6 v Atalanta (H) - WON 2-0 (Serie A)
November 29 v Inter (A) - LOST 1-0 (Serie A)
November 24 v Olympique Lyonnais (H) - WON 1-0 (Champions League)
Milan
December 13 v Palermo (H) - LOST 2-0 (Serie A)
December 8 v FC Zurich (A) - DREW 1-1 (Champions League)
December 5 v Sampdoria (H) - WON 3-0 (Serie A)
November 29 v Catania (A) - WON 2-0 (Serie A)
November 25 v Marseille (H) - DREW 1 - 1 (Champions League)
TEAM NEWS
Fiorentina
The Viola are struggling with injuries at the moment as Alessandro Gamberini, Cristiano Zanetti and Marco Marchionni have to sit out on Saturday night. There is also some doubt on the availability of Gianluca Comotto. Adrian Mutu is likely to be on the bench with Alberto Gilardino playing as the lone striker upfront.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Frey, De Silvestri, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Montolivo, Donadel; Jorgenssen, Santana, Vargas; Gilardino
Milan
The Rossoneri too have injury concerns of their own as Massimo Oddo, Oguchi Onyewu, Thiago Silva and Daniele Bonera all miss out on the trip to Florence. Mathieu Flamini and Clarence Seedorf are racing against time to recover fitness.
Probable Lineup (4-2-1-3): Dida, Zambrotta, Nesta, Kaladze, Antonini; Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Pato, Borriello, Ronaldinho
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina)
The Italian international striker has undergone a Renaissance of sorts since leaving Milan for Fiorentina in 2008 and has been among the goals regularly this season. Gilardino would be looking to put one over his former club and show that it wasn't only his fault that he failed for the Rossoneri.
Ronaldinho (Milan)
The Brazilian master has been in sensational form of late and although he couldn't lead his side to victory against Palermo last weekend, he did show some touches and creativity that were really wonderful. Ronaldinho leads the assists charts in Serie A at the moment and for Milan to return to winning ways, he has to be at the heart of creative ideas in Florence on Saturday night.
PREDICTION
This promises to be a hugely entertaining game and one that could have a few goals in it. Fiorentina don't tend to concede too many but Milan's policy of late has been to score more than the opposition. Both sides are attack-minded and the neutrals could be in for a treat. As for the result, it will probably be a draw.
Fiorentina 1-1 Milan
Subhankar Mondal, Goal.com
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