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As the 2016/17 door slams shut another door opens for what will hopefully be a more worthwhile campaign for Pioli and his bunch of dysfunctional, incompetent nearly men. With a new season comes new optimism and a reason to kid yourself that this season is the one where something meaningful is achieved all over again. We wouldn’t have it any other way, right?
Nevertheless, early pre-season news indicates that arrangements have been made for Fiorentina to take on Sporting at the ‘José Alvalade Stadium’ in Lisbon and Vfl Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg.
The prior match on July 29th sees Fiorentina take on their Portuguese opposition in what is sure to be more than your standard pre-season kick about. The tragic death of Fiorentina fan Marco Ficini ahead of the Lisbon derby in April has brought about the fixture in what will be a match in memory of Ficini; a classy touch from both Fiorentina and their Portuguese counterpart Sporting.
The second, taking place on the 6th of August deep in Saxony territory sees Pioli take on Vfl Wolfsburg, and more notably the living, breathing, existing Viola legend St. Mario Gomez. The latter’s return is a trivial touch to what will otherwise be good test and early indicator of the kind of progress Pioli’s team have made, if any.