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Specialists in cup competitions, Fiorentina are returning to Serie A action this Sunday evening, with a potential victory at Stadio Arechi spelling doom for Salernitana's relegation hopes. Despite their prowess in knockout tournaments, Fiorentina appears destined for a mid-table position in the Italian top flight. Conversely, their opponents are teetering on the brink, languishing a significant 13 points adrift from safety.
While Fiorentina's attack struggled initially during their Europa Conference League quarter-final on Thursday, they ultimately overcame 10-man Viktoria Plzen with a 2-0 victory in extra time. The breakthrough came swiftly in the additional period, as Nico Gonzalez emphatically struck the opening goal just minutes after the restart. Subsequently, captain Cristiano Biraghi sealed the deal with a clinical finish on a swift counterattack.
Furthermore, Fiorentina currently holds a 1-0 advantage over Atalanta BC in their Coppa Italia encounter, with the tie set to conclude in the upcoming week. This situation presents departing coach Vincenzo Italiano with the prospect of guiding his team to two finals for the second consecutive season, despite falling short in both competitions the previous year.
But first, with six games remaining, he needs to attempt to lead Fiorentina to a top-half finish in Serie A, where their 2024 results have made league position and European participation seem improbable.
The Tuscan squad is now ranked 10th in the league after a 1-1 home tie with Genoa. Jonathan Ikone's equalizing goal was the team's 13th headed finish this season; no other side has scored more.
Italiano's team has only managed to pick up 11 points from 12 games in the second half of the season. They have only won one of their last 10 away games, and none since December. As a result, it might not be easy for them to defeat Serie A's lowest team on Sunday.
Despite enduring a 3-0 loss in the previous encounter in December, Salernitana has never faced defeat when hosting Fiorentina in Serie A, with four prior encounters in Italy's top football league.
Nonetheless, the Granata approach the fixture at Stadio Arechi with a considerable deficit of at least 13 points from safety, making their relegation to Serie B almost inevitable, especially if Empoli secures victory against Napoli and they suffer a defeat on Sunday, marking the mathematical confirmation of their demotion.
But first, with six games remaining, he needs to attempt to lead Fiorentina to a top-half finish in Serie A, where their 2024 results have made league position and European participation seem improbable.
The Tuscan squad is now ranked 10th in the league after a 1-1 home tie with Genoa. Jonathan Ikone's equalizing goal was the team's 13th headed finish this season; no other side has scored more.
Italiano's team has only managed to pick up 11 points from 12 games in the second half of the season. They have only won one of their last 10 away games, and none since December. As a result, it might not be easy for them to defeat Serie A's lowest team on Sunday.
Under the guidance of their fourth coach this season, Stefano Colantuono, Salernitana suffered a resounding 4-1 defeat against Lazio in their previous outing, extending their dismal run to just one point earned from their last five matches.
Adding to their woes, the loss against Lazio set a new undesirable club record for the most consecutive Serie A matches without a win - 14, of which they endured defeat in 11.
Despite the gloomy outlook, Colantuono's squad remains determined to display a spirited performance for their devoted supporters against Fiorentina, who themselves are grappling with the challenges of a congested fixture list.
Following a journey southward to Salerno, Fiorentina faces a swift turnaround, necessitating a journey north to Bergamo for the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final against Atalanta. Consequently, Vincenzo Italiano plans to implement squad rotation for Sunday's match.
While Giacomo Bonaventura grapples with an ankle ailment, Italiano anticipates a fully available roster at Stadio Arechi.
Michael Kayode, Riccardo Sottil, and Lucas Martinez Quarta are among several contenders for elevation from the substitutes' bench.
On the flip side, Salernitana will be without Lassana Coulibaly due to suspension, with Guilio Maggiore and Grigoris Kastanos sidelined by knee injuries. Consequently, Mateusz Legowski may be tapped to feature in midfield.
Despite Guillermo Ochoa's recent return to fitness, Benoit Costil is poised to maintain his position in goal.
In another vein, Antonio Candreva, a seasoned player, has orchestrated 11 goals against Fiorentina throughout his extensive Serie A tenure - marking the most assists against a single team in Italy's top flight over the past two decades.
