Good afternoon everyone. I'm just back from a nice hike in Rock Creek park here in Washington DC. It was a nice celebration of the fact that the temperature is above freezing for the first time in weeks. Now I'm watching the end of Bari blowing a 2-0 lead at home against Inter and reading up on tomorrow's match.
Several things are combining to make me feel pretty confident that the Viola will take all 3 points tomorrow. Gamberini looks to be back and Marchionni should be good to go from the start. Also, Bologna loaned the dangerous and potentially highly motivated Osvaldo to Espanyol so we won't have to worry about him causing havoc against his former teammates. Overall, the team is nearing full fitness and the visit of 17th-place Bologna should add up to a victory.
It looks like Prandelli will have to give Lars the start in the central midfield alongside RickyMonty, as Donadel is serving a yellow card suspension, and although Zanetti has returned to training, he's still got some work to do before he's ready to take the field again. Mutu will be ready from the start, but he may not have a full 90 in his legs after the two goal performance in the Coppa match on Thursday. Gila's over his fever and will be ready to do his thing. I think we'll also get our first look at the Gamberini-Felipe partnership in central defense, and this will let us see if the brain trust see this as the solution to the long term central defensive weakness or if Felipe is more of a squad player.
Lineups, aka Blind Guess Dept.
Fiorentina: 4-2-3-1: Bassy; Comotto, Gamberini, Felipe, Pasqual; Lars, RickyMonty; Marchionni, Mutu, Vargas; Gila Monster.
Bologna: 4-4-2: Viviano; Raggi, Moras, Portanova, Lanna; Mingazzini, Guana, Mudingayi; Adailton; Zalayeta, Di Vaio
TeeVee?
Doesn't look good. We'll do the stream thing in the am. Kickoff is at 9:00 EST.
Prediction Time:
I think the Viola get it done 3-0. Gila Monster, Mutu and RickyMonty. Forza Viola!