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Serie A Preview: Fiorentina – Napoli

What: Serie A, Week 21
Who: Fiorentina - Napoli
When: Wednesday, January 28, 20:30CET
Where: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence

Jan 27, 2009 7:36:08 AM

Alberto Gilardino on target again for Fiorentina in their 1-0 win over an impressive Genoa side.

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Alberto Gilardino on target again for Fiorentina in their 1-0 win over an impressive Genoa side.

Teams

Both sides are seemingly in free fall coming into this potential Champions League six-pointer. Fiorentina have lost three on the trot and have dropped to seventh place in the Serie A table, while Roma brought to a sudden halt Napoli’s unbeaten home streak last weekend, as the Azzurri stumbled to their third loss in the last four encounters.

“Enough Is Enough”

President Andrea Della Valle was livid after Saturday’s match against Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico, as the Bianconeri claimed a 1-0 victory to further damage the Gigliati’s Champions League aspirations.

Cesare Prandelli’s side felt hard done by, as referee Massimiliano Saccani first waved play on when Montenegrin striker Stevan Jovetic seemed to be tripped by Juve defender Olof Mellberg in the penalty box with the score still poised at 0-0, and then incorrectly disallowed an Alberto Gilardino goal for offside.

“I am disgusted with what I have witnessed,” bellowed Della Valle. “I am indignant to the attitude from these referees against my team, which has now gone on for weeks.”

The Viola patron also alleged that Fiorentina are apparently still paying for Gilardino’s handball goal in Palermo and went on to demand a public explanation from the authorities.

It would indeed be naïve to say that the Tuscans are in crisis at the moment, as refereeing mistakes played a major part in each one of their three straight losses after the Christmas break.

Lecce snatched a 2-1 victory at the Stadio Franchi thanks to a blunder from the linesman who did not spot Ignacio Castillo’s evident offside position and Riccardo Montolivo was not awarded a spot-kick in Milan when clearly felled by Giuseppe Favalli ten days ago.

However, the midweek round will soon give the Viola the opportunity to get back on track and possibly put this controversy behind them, and with the race for the fourth spot hotting up, they know there will be no more room for mistakes from now on, particularly from officials…

The Collapse Of The San Paolo

From Roma to Roma. The Azzurri fortress incredibly crumbled down on Sunday after almost a year, as the Giallorossi again stunned the San Paolo crowd.

Following a 2-0 defeat by the Lupi last March, Edy Reja’s men had managed to string together an impressive run of 16 wins and 2 draws in all competitions so Sunday’s 3-0 drubbing was somewhat unexpected. But was it really?

The Vesuviani have been stuttering for weeks and it has now become evident that they may have been punching above their weight, despite still lying in fifth spot and just three points off the Champions League places.

However, like Fiorentina, the Campani have not had the rub of the green in their last two matches; referee Stefano Farina denied them a blatant spot-kick for a push on Christian Maggio at Chievo Verona, while Philippe Mexes’ offside strike opened the floodgates on Sunday. That is why designator Pierluigi Collina has opted to pick one of the best regarded referees in Italy, Nicola Rizzoli, for Wednesday’s showdown in Florence.

And a daunting task lies ahead for Napoli, as they have lost six of their last seven games in the cauldron of the Stadio Franchi, with Christian Vieri settling a tense affair last season.

This will be the 69th meeting between the sides in Tuscany: the Viola have 34 wins, Napoli have 11 and there have been 13 draws.

FORM GUIDE

Fiorentina
24 January (Serie A): Juventus 1-0 Fiorentina
17 January (Serie A): Milan 1-0 Fiorentina
11 January (Serie A): Fiorentina 1-2 Lecce
21 December (Serie A): Sampdoria 0-1 Fiorentina
14 December (Serie A): Fiorentina 2-1 Catania

Napoli
25 January (Serie A): Napoli 0-3 Roma
18 January (Serie A): Chievo Verona 2-1 Napoli
11 January (Serie A): Napoli 1-0 Catania
21 December (Serie A): Torino 1-0 Napoli
13 December (Serie A): Napoli 3-0 Lecce

Last season: Fiorentina 1-0 Napoli

TEAM NEWS

Fiorentina
Defender Gianluca Comotto returns from suspension, however, Romanian striker Adrian Mutu is still out with a dislocated elbow but could return to action next weekend. Montenegrin ace Stevan Jovetic will once again partner Alberto Gilardino up front.

Another certain absentee will be midfielder Martin Jorgensen who has not yet recovered from a flu virus, while Peruvian left-back Juan Manuel Vargas should reclaim his place in the starting XI.

Possible Formation (4-3-1-2): Frey; Comotto, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Vargas; Montolivo, Melo, Kuzmanovic; Santana; Jovetic, Gilardino.

Napoli
Slovak midfielder Marek Hamsik is still suspended, as are Uruguayan Walter Gargano and defender Matteo Contini, who are likely to be replaced by Mariano Bogliacino and Salvatore Aronica respectively.

Goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo was forced to pull out of the home clash with Roma on Sunday due to persistent back problems, and understudy Matteo Gianello is expected to deputise again in Florence.

Possible Formation (3-5-2): Gianello; Santacroce, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Blasi, Bogliacino, Pazienza, Mannini; Lavezzi, Zalayeta.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fiorentina: ALBERTO GILARDINO

‘Gila’ will be hoping to end his four-game goal drought against Napoli and open his account for 2009. He last hit the back of the net in the home clash with Catania on December 14 and was unfortunate to see his strike against Juve incorrectly ruled out for offside. If Fiorentina are to keep alive their Champions League dreams, he will have to retune his violin as soon as possible.

Napoli: MARCELO ZALAYETA

‘El Panteron’ is gradually rediscovering his best form after suffering a devastating knee injury which kept him sidelined for five months and severely affected his start to the campaign. His spectacular effort against Roma was chalked off for handball, but he was the only one to seriously test Brazilian ‘keeper Doni on a disastrous day for the Vesuviani.

PREDICTION

Fiorentina are desperate to resume their march after three defeats on the bounce in the New Year and the cards are clearly stacked in their favour as the Partenopei have failed to pick up a single point on the road since a win over Lazio back in October and will miss several key men both in midfield and defence.

Fiorentina 2-1 Napoli

Vince Masiello, Goal.com

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