The Florence team earned the same 65 points as Lazio last season, but finished sixth on tie-breakers. This allowed them to start in the Conference League again, where they collected nine points in the main stage and advanced to the playoffs. However, in Serie A they couldn’t secure victories either under Pioli, who was brought in over the summer, or with Vanoli, who took over in winter. Only before Christmas did they thrash Udinese, but then lost to Parma. And after a win over Cremonese, they drew 2-2 with Lazio.
The giants from San Siro last season managed only a winter Super Cup win. Afterwards came a quick exit from the Champions League playoffs, a drop to eighth in Serie A, and finally a defeat in the cup final. Now, under Allegri, they were knocked out of the Super Cup in December right away. But in Serie A, they are managing to join the title race, including wins over their last two opponents, Cagliari and Genoa.
This season’s outsiders average just 1.05 goals scored per game, conceding 1.58 in return. The title contenders average 1.65 goals scored and only 0.76 conceded.
Fiorentina have lost only one of their last four matches
63% of Fiorentina’s matches end with both teams scoring, and the average total goals per match is 2.63.
Milan have won four of their last seven matches
47% of Milan’s matches end with both teams scoring, and the average total goals per match is 2.41.
Fiorentina (probable lineup): De Gea – Ranieri, Pongracic, Komuzzo, Dodo – N’Dour, Fagioli, Mandragora, Parisi – Gudmundsson, Kean
Milan (probable lineup): Maignan – Pavlovic, De Winter, Tomori – Bartesaghi, Rabiot, Modric, Loftus-Cheek, Saelemaekers – Pulisic, Nkunku.
