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After being dealt a major blow by AS Roma last Friday, Fiorentina take on bottom of the league Hellas Verona as they look to keep pace for the Champions League spots in Serie A. The Gialloblu were winless until their 2-1 win over Atalanta at the beginning of February, and despite a slight upturn in fortunes under Gigi Delneri in recent times, they remain bottom of the league.
Fiorentina
Paulo Sousa is set to continue with his 4-2-3-1 formation, but with Matias Vecino a doubt, Borja Valero should drop back into a defensive midfield role. The lineup will be proactive nonetheless with Cristian Tello, Josip Ilicic and Federico Bernardeschi supporting Nikola Kalinic as the coach looks to ensure that there are no slip ups against a side that now looks certain to be relegated to Serie B.
"The fans always sent us signs of their faith and the team wants to honour them by giving everything without limits," said Sousa in his pre-match press conference. "Now we have to let them realise how much we want to make them proud with our attacking football, possession and fighting spirit." The club's ticket initiative for the match, named 'insieme' in reference to the friendship between the teams hopes to ensure that the aforementioned desire to win will be seen by as many fans as possible.
Hellas Verona
Verona's front two will be familiar to Viola fans, as Delneri should name both Luca Toni and Giampaolo Pazzini in his starting lineup. Sweden and Hellas defender Filip Helander spoke to local newspaper L'Arena, explaining his side's tactical naivety in recent weeks, and the expectation that their key to salvation does not lie with the game with Fiorentina, rather forthcoming clashes with fellow relegation candidates Frosinone, Carpi and Palermo. There is no doubt that the visitors have regained some fighting spirit in recent weeks, but the fixture is one that Fiorentina will expect to win.
Projected Lineups
Fiorentina: [4-2-3-1] Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Gonzalo, Astori, Alonso; Tino Costa, Valero; Tello, Ilicic, Bernardeschi, Kalinic
Hellas Verona: [4-4-2] Gollini; Pisano, Bianchetti, Helander, Albertazzi; Wszolek, Marrone, Ionita, Siligardi; Toni, Pazzini
Watch It
TV: Viewing options are limited for this game but find out where to watch in your region here.
Online: There are various legal online streams - details here.
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