FIORENTINA VS. INTER MILAN
Fiorentina are set to host Italian champions Inter Milan in Florence’s Stadio Artemio Franchi on Tuesday night in the Italian top-flight. The Florence-based club won 2-1 in their previous tie against Genoa with goals from Riccardo Saponara and Giacomo Bonaventura.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan dispatched Bologna for a mammoth scoreline of 6-1 with the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko getting on the scoresheet as the Lombardy capital club climbed to the top of the table in Serie A.
As both clubs prepare for the match in Tuscany in midweek, FootTheBall brings to you a detailed preview before the game kicks off on Tuesday night in the Tuscan capital of Florence.
TEAM NEWS
FIORENTINA
Vincenzo Italiano will be without the services of young goalkeeping starlet Michele Cerofolini and defender Lorenzo Venuti for this crucial game. Apart from the aforementioned duo, Italiano has no headaches in drafting the starting line-up against the Nerazzurri.
Fiorentina probable starting line-up (4-3-3) : Dragowski; Odriozola, Martinez, Igor, Biraghi; Bonaventura, Pulgar, Castrovilli; Callejon, Vlahovic, Gonzalez
INTER MILAN
Stefano Sensi and young custodian Gabriel Brazao will not be travelling to Florence to face Fiorentina in Inter Milan’s upcoming match in Serie A. Meanwhile, Simone Inzaghi will not be able to call upon the services of Joaquin Correa as the Argentine is a doubt for this game in the Italian top-flight.
Inter Milan probable starting line-up (3-5-2) : Handanovic, Skriniar, de Vrij, Ranocchia, Dumfries, Vecino, Calhanoglu, Barella, Perisic, Martinez, Dzeko
GAMECHANGERS
DUSAN VLAHOVIC
The Serbian forward has been a revelation this season for Fiorentina in the Italian top-flight. The 21-year old has already scored 3 goals in 4 matches in Serie A, including a brace against Atalanta in Bergamo.
He is 190 cm tall, which means that he is a force to be reckoned with when indulging in aerial duels with other players and has the speed and agility to beat almost anyone on his day in Serie A.
Therefore, he will be an important cog in the team of Vincenzo Italiano for this season and many more seasons to come as he traverses his way in the Italian top division.
LAUTARO MARTINEZ
The Argentine is now the fulcrum of Inter Milan’s attack after Belgian teammate Romelu Lukaku’s departure from Italy’s fashion capital and will once again be leading the line alongside Edin Dzeko in Florence.
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The former Racing Club forward has established himself as one of the pivotal players for Simone Inzaghi if Inter Milan harbour ambitions of defending their league title this season in Italy. He has scored 3 goals so far in the Italian top-flight and the onus will be on him once again to open up Fiorentina’s defence with the help of Edin Dzeko on Tuesday night in Florence.
PREDICTION
Inter Milan are on an unbeaten run in the Italian league until now and it looks like they will extend it by one more match on Tuesday night in the Tuscan capital of Florence. Fiorentina are in 5th place, having already lost one match in the Italian top-flight, and will be looking to make a statement of intent by at least earning a draw against the defending champions. But, the mere quality in the ranks of Inter Milan means that the Nerazzurri will probably make light work of the Lilies.
FootTheBall’s prediction: Fiorentina 1-3 Inter Milan
