Viola Nation - Fiorentina vs SPAL: Serie A 2018-2019A Fiorentina blog for Viola fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50059/viola-fav.png2018-09-24T04:31:14+02:00http://www.violanation.com/rss/stream/176541392018-09-24T04:31:14+02:002018-09-24T04:31:14+02:00Fiorentina 3-0 SPAL: Recap and player grades
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<img alt="ACF Fiorentina v SPAL - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Invmpd3UVVHMzaxn3rD4eameTtE=/0x0:2996x1997/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61514983/1037724568.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>“E un Pjaca importante” | Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>That may be the best 90 minutes of football that the Viola have put together this year.</p> <h2 id="uPkHY2">Pre-match</h2>
<p id="byv7e5"><span>Stefano Pioli</span> set out the exciting tridente of Federico Chiesa, Giovanni Simeone, and Marko Pjaca for the first time at the Artemio Franchi. The rest of the team was the usual XI, indicating that this may be the new default, as Alban Lafont made a surprisingly quick recovery from his hamstring niggle; he only missed two matches when we’d feared he’d be out a month. Former <a href="https://www.violanation.com/">Fiorentina</a> Primavera manager Leonardo Semplici also went with his usual XI, including former Viola men Jasmin Kurtić and Felipe dal Bello.</p>
<p id="pJwayK">Considering that Fiorentina Women’s got their Serie A campaign off to a terrific start with a 6-1 pasting of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/atalanta">Atalanta</a> Mozzanica on Friday (Alia Guagni, Ilaria Mauro, Liliana Kostova, Tatiana Bonetti, Isotta Nocchi, and Lana Clelland each netting once) and that the Primavera handled <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/udinese">Udinese</a> 2-1 (Dušan Vlahović and Nicky Medja the scorers), a win here would round off a heck of a weekend.</p>
<h2 id="nkC0T2">First half</h2>
<p id="B5R1j3">Fiorentina came out looking like they wanted to put this one to bed early, with Chiesa and Jordan Veretout heavily involved in the early going. Giovanni Simeone had the first real chance at 7’, but his quick reaction to turn and hit one didn’t have enough juice to trouble Alfred Gomis. 2 minutes later, Nikola Milenković lashed the ball into the net off a corner, but was correctly pinged for being a hair offside. Aside from a brief foray forward that saw a Kurtić cross fizz across the face of Lafont’s goal, the opening 15 minutes were all Fiorentina; the hosts were keeping the ball in the visitors’ end and consistently threatening by keeping the wingers wide, which in turn left a lot of space between the three SPAL defenders and gave Pjaca and especially Chiesa a lot of room to operate.</p>
<p id="2badqz">The opener came after 18 minutes, and it came through Marko Pjaca. Cristiano Biraghi whipped in a deep cross that Mohammed Fares completely borked, leaving the ball right in front of the Croatian about 6 yards from the net. The <a href="https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/">Juventus</a> loanee made no mistake in dispatching his first-ever Serie A goal, and just like that the hosts had a well-deserved lead. The Viola retreated into their own half after the goal a bit too much and invited a lot of pressure as SPAL furiously pressed forward to equalize; their best chance came from <span>Mirco Antenucci</span>, but the veteran poacher somehow completely whiffed on a free header in the box. Other than that, the defense looked completely impregnable, and just before the half hour mark, the defense came up big on the other end. Specifically, Veretout skied a corner into the box and Milenković soared to meet it with his head and bullet it in for his second goal of the year. Gomis’ nightmares will probably feature the enormous Serb charging him at a dead sprint for years, as the goalkeeper wisely decided to stay the hell out of the Mountain’s path as the SPAL defense let the goalie down.</p>
<p id="b8N2xc">Things slowed down after the half hour mark, as a bunch of SPAL players suffered minor injuries that left play rather choppy. Even so, though, Fiorentina remained in complete control. Lafont’s only action was to easily smother a probing effort from Antenucci that never troubled him. On the other end, Chiesa came within inches twice; first, he cut in from the left and hit a curler that bounced inches wide of the back post, and then drove forward on the right and let fly a piledriver that Francesco Vicari partially blocked, sending the ball looping just over the bar. When referee Davide Ghersini blew thrice, Fiorentina had a 2-0 lead that fully reflected their dominance, and you could see the party already getting started in the Curva Fiesole, as SPAL simply aren’t constructed to overcome a 2-goal deficit away in just 45 minutes.</p>
<h2 id="WtAjqC">Second half</h2>
<p id="hH3Dly">Pioli brought off Biraghi at the half due to a combination of the Italy international’s booking for a hard foul on Manuel Lazzari and a possible ankle injury, which meant that 20-year-old Slovakian David Hancko made his Fiorentina debut. The kid wasted no time in making his presence felt, bursting down the left and raking a low cross through the box that nobody quite managed to reach. The Slovak was involved on the other end, too, as Lazzari cut inside to feed <span>Andrea Petagna</span> 3 minutes later for a missile shot that Lafont blocked back into play, but Hancko reacted quickly to sweep it clear. He also had an interchange of backheels with Chiesa in the attacking third a moment later to put the winger through on goal, but Fede’s shot scooted just wide with Gomis rooted to the spot.</p>
<p id="MUPmz1">After another Kurtić blast from distance that came a bit too close for comfort, Fede finally got his goal at the 56’ mark. He dropped in to win the ball in midfield and fed Pjaca who carried the ball forward and exchanged passes with <span>Marco Benassi</span> before getting the ball caught under his feet in the area. Fede, spotting his moment, darted forward and coolly finished in the area, then peeled off to celebrate with his younger brother Lorenzo, who was working as a ballboy on the touchline as their parents looked on from the stands. It’s perhaps the definitive image of Federico’s young career, and was one of the sweetest and most emotional moments I’ve ever seen in a football match.</p>
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<img alt="ACF Fiorentina v SPAL - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TnQyvg4Y-sSn_kyqrkTvoOZVRXU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13142321/1037735132.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Seriously tearing up in the pub as I write this.</figcaption>
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<p id="kgbqMh">Now with a 3-goal lead at home and a half hour left, Fiorentina pretty much put it on cruise control. Chiesa exited to a standing ovation at 66’ and <span>Kevin Mirallas</span> came on, and the Belgian put on a show. He got in behind, cut inside to shoot, and generally looked like the guy who starred for <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> for years. Hancko also continued to look really impressive, completely shutting down the dangerous Lazzari and adding an impressive dimension in attack. Milenković nearly completed his brace from another corner, but the last real drama came as Kurtić put a really bad challenge on Germán Pezzella that resulted in a straight red card. One VAR consultation later, though, Ghersini reversed his decision (correctly) to a yellow, and the game ended with Mirallas and Kurtić each having decent efforts. But Ghersini blew the match over, there was no question that the hosts fully deserved their 3-0 win.</p>
<h2 id="9g8S66">Post-match</h2>
<p id="fVNV99">This was the single best Fiorentina performance I’ve seen in a long time. Even the 6-1 against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/chievo-verona">Chievo Verona</a> featured 30 minutes of the Donkeys taking it to the Viola; in this one, there was a brief moment after the first goal in which Fiorentina sat back a bit too much, and they let it open up after halftime, but they reasserted their superiority after 5-10 minutes each time. They made chances, kept the ball, and basically looked like a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> caliber side dismissing a lower-half opponent without ever getting out of third gear. That they did this against SPAL, who came into the fixture sitting second in Serie A, is pretty damn impressive.</p>
<p id="ObkBqG">Full credit here goes to Pioli, who got all his decisions completely right. By keeping his wingers high and wide, he stretched the SPAL back three and opened a lot of space in the channels, and then gave Gerson and Benassi the freedom to push wide and overload the wings. Even more encouraging, though, was his willingness to keep his foot on the gas after Pjaca opened the scoring. Hopefully, the positive result from that will drive home the point that this team isn’t really built to park the bus, but is rather designed to roar forward and overwhelm opposing defenses, leaving a wake of diesel fumes and destruction in their wake.</p>
<p id="sAYLjc">Also, this seems like a good place to mention that this was just about the friendliest match I’ve seen in Serie A in a long time too. There was no dirty play, no diving, and both sets of players accepted whatever the referee said without complaint. They also did a wonderful job of checking on each other after fouls and collisions, helping each other to their feet, and generally providing a living example of how opponents ought to treat each other. The away support, too, was raucous and lively for the full 90 minutes, bursting into song at 13’ to remember Davide Astori. The whole thing was just damn lovely; that the Fiorentina faithful were in full throat for the whole match made it perfect.</p>
<p id="ZvWp8K">Oh yeah, Fiorentina are third in Serie A right now.</p>
<h2 id="nyYmYD">Player grades</h2>
<p id="xvOVIm"><strong>Lafont</strong>—6: Had very little to do. Remains quite tidy with his distribution from the back and has a knack for finding angles to work the ball into midfield. Spilled the Petagna shot into a dangerous area but was otherwise quite safe.</p>
<p id="gd1Sgu"><strong>Milenković</strong>—7.5: Starting to look like the threat from set pieces you’d expect such a massive human to provide, but remains most notable for being pretty much unbeatable at the back. Marshalled Antenucci and Fares without ever looking worried. It’s no longer a matter of waiting for him to break through; he’s a genuine star.</p>
<p id="rHlBa0"><strong>Pezzella</strong>—6.5: Lost track of Antenucci for that header, but otherwise did an excellent job of directing traffic and safely moving the all around the back or forward to the midfielders. Just a steady, comforting presence at all times.</p>
<p id="ndEZYl"><strong>Vitor Hugo</strong>—6.5: Battled Petagna to a standstill, harrying the big striker all over the pitch. Showed a willingness to step out of the backline, which was a new thing, and provided a good secondary option at set pieces. He’s probably never going to play for Brazil, but performances like this make it clear that he is, at worst, an above-average defender.</p>
<p id="mApO3g"><strong>Biraghi</strong>—5.5: His ball in created the opener, but that was more on Fares’ howler. Struggled to keep pace with Lazzari going back and fully earned the yellow he received for a bad foul on his fellow international. Went off partially due to a knock, so hopefully he’s okay for <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/">Inter Milan</a> on Tuesday.</p>
<p id="ZXzP0b"><strong>Benassi</strong>—5: Very quiet match from Marco, even in the new wingback-ish role that Pioli’s developed for him. Never found space in behind and didn’t seem to spend much time on the ball.</p>
<p id="Bj6odS"><strong>Veretout</strong>—7: Controlled play brilliantly in the middle and set the tempo for the full match with his smart and assured passing, moving the ball neatly out to the wings as quickly as possible. While he brings plenty of hustle as a defender (at one point he took a corner that SPAL broke the other way with and ran down the ball carrier past the center circle), but still doesn’t have the defensive instincts of, say, <span>Milan Badelj</span>.</p>
<p id="YkOUpQ"><strong>Gerson</strong>—6.5: Looked like a very different player in this one as he had permission to drive forward with and without the ball. His knack for playing on the turn and then bursting into space between the lines adds even more dynamism to the midfield, and he’s been better than advertised as a ball-winner, although that’ll never be his forte.</p>
<p id="OhGAyd"><strong>Chiesa</strong>—8: Oh my goodness. At the heart of everything for Fiorentina. Had the beating of every defender he saw and showcased a bit more awareness, barely missing Pjaca with a couple of neatly clipped crosses to the back post. We’re witnessing his aposiopesis here, so let’s just enjoy the ride.</p>
<p id="xUcMrs"><strong>Simeone</strong>—5.5: Put in a heck of a shift defensively, but seemed a step of when going forward. Aside from one early reaction shot that Gomis stopped pretty easily, never tested the keeper, and his linkup play was not especially good. Given that he’s played 270 minutes this week, it’s fair to wonder if fatigue played a role in this one.</p>
<p id="Nd7N6S"><strong>Pjaca</strong>—7: Will never score an easier goal, but it was still a relief to see him get on the board after the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/sampdoria">Sampdoria</a> match. Tracked way, way back on defense and thus wasn’t as high up the pitch as you might like, so he was a little quieter than we might have liked. Seems like his pace and dribbling should make him a perfect outlet to kickstart counterattacks, but it’s hard to argue with the result here.</p>
<p id="rZyINv"><strong>Hancko</strong>—6.5: Woah. Came out and looked utterly fearless, which you don’t generally expect of a 20-year-old making his Serie A debut. Showed energy and intelligence in attack, stretching play and hitting several dangerous low, first-time crosses; also played an exquisite backheel to Fede in the box. Has the tackling and positioning down, but did get smoked once by Lazzari cutting inside. Still, though, looks like he has a long future as a very good professional. Corvinata.</p>
<p id="hIPwy2"><strong>Mirallas</strong>—6.5: This is the Kevin we wanted to see. Got in behind, dropped short to combine with the midfield, drifted inside, stayed wide before cutting in to shoot, and generally looked like dynamic and dangerous. Came quite close to scoring a couple of times. </p>
<p id="JpO1c6"><strong>Eysseric</strong>—n/a: Didn’t play enough to merit a grade, but did combine neatly with Mirallas on a counter near the end that put the Belgian through.</p>
https://www.violanation.com/2018/9/24/17894038/fiorentina-3-0-spal-recap-review-serie-a-player-grades-ratingsThe Tito2018-09-22T19:59:08+02:002018-09-22T19:59:08+02:00Fiorentina 3-0 SPAL: Highlights
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<img alt="ACF Fiorentina v SPAL - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/j79qj8nf-Qs5H6tfzPUlpoG1YGc=/0x0:2996x1997/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61503513/1037735132.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>My heart. | Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Three nice goals and a dominant display. What more could you ask for?</p> <h2 id="33z7wy">Pre-match</h2>
<p id="1z11R1"><span>Stefano Pioli</span> brought Alban Lafont back between the sticks, and also sent <span>Marco Benassi</span> and Marko Pjaca into the XI. Lenardo Semplici’s SPAL was as expected.</p>
<h2 id="iduWUI">First half</h2>
<p id="mE5pl3">In the 18th minute, <span>Cristiano Biraghi</span> whipped a cross into the box from the left, and Mohammed Fares completely whiffed on the clearance, presenting Marko Pjaca with the easiest of chances, and the Croatian coolly slotted home for his first Serie A goal.</p>
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<p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Grâce au premier but de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pjaca?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pjaca</a> et celui de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Milenkovic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Milenkovic</a><br><br>La Fiorentina mène 2-0 face à SPAL ! <a href="https://t.co/rxdYh0y1gY">pic.twitter.com/rxdYh0y1gY</a></p>— CalciomioTV (@CalciomioTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalciomioTV/status/1043543677925240832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2018</a>
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<p id="irguZT">10 minutes later, Jordan Veretout lofted a corner into the box and Nikola Milenković timed his run to perfection, meeting the ball at the apex of his leap and hammering his header into the back of the net. Nobody could have stopped him except for maybe goalkeeper Alfred Gomis, and you can’t blame him for not wanting any piece of the Mountain at full speed.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out this awesome video: Nikola Milenkovic Goal HD Fiorentina2-0Spal 22.09.2018 <a href="https://t.co/1JWzYEZCQK">https://t.co/1JWzYEZCQK</a></p>— Football ⚽️ (@lovefotball5) <a href="https://twitter.com/lovefotball5/status/1043539071971348482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2018</a>
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<h2 id="EtBtdQ">Second half</h2>
<p id="PEJTu3">Federico Chiesa wrapped things up in the 56th minute, winning the ball in midfield and feeding Pjaca, who exchanged passes with Marco Benassi before getting the ball stuck under his feet. Fede motored onto the ball in the area and slammed it home before wheeling off to celebrate with his younger brother Lorenzo, who was working the touchlines as a ball boy in what has to be one of the sweetest celebrations I’ve ever seen.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">CHIESA MAKES IT 3-0 FOR FIORENTINA!<a href="https://t.co/LBHNAfc9wv">pic.twitter.com/LBHNAfc9wv</a></p>— ItalianFootballTV (@IFTVofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/IFTVofficial/status/1043551504920141825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2018</a>
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<p lang="it" dir="ltr">Federico Chiesa <a href="https://t.co/ftZfo4keDN">pic.twitter.com/ftZfo4keDN</a></p>— Info Serie A Italia (@Info_SerieA) <a href="https://twitter.com/Info_SerieA/status/1043557071487098880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2018</a>
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<h2 id="FYy7hr">Full time</h2>
<p id="3WHKzb"><strong>Goals</strong>: Pjaca 18’, Milenković 28’ (ass. Veretout), Chiesa 56’ (ass. Pjaca)</p>
<p id="GvyJ81"><strong>Cards</strong>: Biraghi 33’, Schiattarella 55’, Kurtić 71’</p>
https://www.violanation.com/2018/9/22/17890440/fiorentina-3-0-spal-highlights-goals-video-marko-pjaca-nikola-milenkovic-chiesa-serie-aThe Tito2018-09-22T17:11:41+02:002018-09-22T17:11:41+02:00Fiorentina vs SPAL: Lineups and how to watch
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<img alt="ACF Fiorentina v Chievo Verona - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gI3ag49K7RkE_NEjvW8daTMi2mQ=/0x0:2996x1997/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61502469/1024185324.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Join us in the comments as the Viola look for a return to winning ways at the Franchi against a very tough SPAL outfit.</p> <h2 id="pOVI9J">Late news</h2>
<p id="dDai35"><span>Stefano Pioli</span> has opted to bring Alban Lafont back into the lineup, sending Bartłomiej Drągowski back to the bench. Marko Pjaca and <span>Marco Benassi</span> are in as well; this sure looks like the mister’s new starting eleven. Leonardo Semplici has set out the lineup we expected.</p>
<h2 id="bVZmx6">Lineups</h2>
<p id="a31lVx"><a href="https://www.violanation.com/"><strong>Fiorentina</strong></a> (4-3-3): Lafont; Milenković, Pezzella, Vitor Hugo, Biraghi; Benassi, Veretout, Gerson; Chiesa, Simeone, Pjaca</p>
<p id="9OMtNx"><strong>SPAL</strong> (3-5-2): Gomis; Cionek, Vicari, Felipe; Lazzari, Kurtić, Schiattarella, Missiroli, Fares; Petagna, Antenucci</p>
<h2 id="KrIzpY">How to watch</h2>
<p id="CF2NkO"><strong>TV</strong>: Check the full international listings <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3071912/fiorentina-vs-spal/">here</a>, but it looks like this is one that’ll require streaming for most of us.</p>
<p id="7gDBOM"><strong>Online</strong>: <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3071912/fiorentina-vs-spal/">Here</a> is your list of safe, reliable, and legal streams. Any requests for or links to illegal streams in the comments will be deleted, and whoever posts them will <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/warnerarchive-warner-archive-blaxploitation-melinda-l3V0j3ytFyGHqiV7W">dealt with</a>. We’ll be providing live updates and commentary on Twitter, so <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Viola_Nation">give us a follow</a> if that’s your thing. Otherwise, keep it here in the comment section for discussion with the best and smartest group of fans on the internet.</p>
<p id="qrAqs3"><strong>Forza Viola!</strong></p>
https://www.violanation.com/2018/9/22/17890066/fiorentina-spal-official-lineups-watch-online-stream-comment-thread-serie-aThe Tito2018-09-21T03:00:01+02:002018-09-21T03:00:01+02:00Fiorentina vs SPAL: Preview
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<img alt="ACF Fiorentina v Chievo Verona - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hfbKvz-Ip1Gcy5BwWMQw6CFcmj0=/4x0:3000x1997/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61482795/1024185036.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>If you look up the term “trap game” in the dictionary, you’re using a weird dictionary. But you’d also find this fixture in the definition.</p> <p id="TpT9y5">Fresh off a pair of frustrating but excusable results, <a href="https://www.violanation.com/">Fiorentina</a> go back home to face high-flying SPAL. These sides have met 37 times over the years, with the Viola holding a W15 D14 L8 edge, including a +11 in goal difference. Most of those meetings occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, though; in their only two meetings since 1968, which happened last year, they played to a pair of draws, including a scoreless one in the reverse fixture.</p>
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<p id="io59bV">The referee for this one is Davide Ghersini of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/genoa">Genoa</a>. In 9 career Serie A matches, he’s issued 39 yellow cards, 2 red cards, and 5 penalties, so he certainly seems the type to put himself at the center of the action. He’s never handled a Fiorentina match, but he’s just 33, so he should be around for quite some time.</p>
<h2 id="YTqYQl">Fiorentina</h2>
<p id="hL4IuA">Sitting in 5th place after 4 matches isn’t a bad place to be, but it’s a matter of “what if” for the Viola this season already, as they conceded a late goal in each of their two previous matches to finish with just a point from the pair. However, a return to the friendly confines of the Franchi, where they’ve won both their matches by a combined 7-1, should help things quite a bit.</p>
<p id="6etD1Y">Manager Stefano Pioli will probably keep GK Alban Lafont (hamstring) on the bench for a bit longer, which means that Bartłomiej Drągowski will continue between the sticks. The mister may opt to rotate the side elsewhere, as this is the team’s 3rd match in 7 days, so don’t be surprised if the likes of Kevin Mirallas or Christian Nørgaard feature at some point. We could also see a debut for Dušan Vlahović or Martin Graiciar up top in the second half, as Giovanni Simeone has run himself into the ground twice this week already.</p>
<p id="MGhKD7">Pioli needs to ensure that his charges keep the intensity up for all 90 minutes, as they can’t afford to let off for a moment against a SPAL team that has a knack for taking advantage of the slightest lapse in concentration. Since the visitors will cede the ball, he’ll need to offer a threat of goals or creativity in midfield to tempt them out of the box; Jordan Veretout will be very important in this one and should switch play from wing to wing quickly. This sets up badly for Cholito, as the SPAL backline won’t give him space in behind and will mark him out of the game, so the onus is on Federico Chiesa even more than usual. This also seems like a good match for Valentin Eysseric to drift around and play the killer pass, so the Frenchman could return to the starting lineup as well.</p>
<h2 id="hbnQoD">SPAL</h2>
<p id="xWyKaE">After narrowly avoiding relegation in their first season in Serie A since 1968, the Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor (to give them their full dignity) are flying high in the top tier again. After squeaking wins against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/bologna">Bologna</a> and <a href="https://www.crusaderschorus.com/">Parma</a>, then falling to <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a>, gli Estensi shocked <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/atalanta">Atalanta</a> 2-0 last week to send themselves into second place. Tough to break down at the back and opportunistic going forward, this is perhaps the worst opponent the Viola could face right now.</p>
<p id="x8tvKX">Manager Leonardo Semplici (who spent 3 years coaching the Fiorentina Primavera before taking his current job) has done brilliantly with this side, but he’ll be without CM <span>Federico Viviani</span> (calf). He’s stuck with a 3-5-2 thus far that defends deep and mostly leaves the attacking to the strikers, although the wingbacks and a midfielder may join in as well. The dangermen are, then, the forwards: <span>Andrea Petagna</span> is a big, strong target man, while <span>Mirco Antenucci</span> is the sort of poacher who always bags goals for teams in the bottom half of the table. Ex-Fiorentina players Jasmin Kurtić and Felipe are regular starters, too; the latter troubled the Viola at set pieces in both matches last year.</p>
<p id="uQioek">Semplici should do his usual thing here, which is defend deep and look for a moment of magic from his strikers, which has worked well so far. This is a veteran group who won’t be fazed by playing a bigger side, and who won’t blink in a tightly-contested affair. What’s most worrisome for the Viola fan, perhaps, is that these guys take their chances well, pouncing whenever their opponents lose focus. Against their younger and quicker counterparts, they’ll want to slow this one to a crawl, turn the midfield contest into a bloodbath, and frustrate their hosts until the cracks start to show. That’s when they’ll go for the smash and grab. </p>
<h2 id="dUBqiv">Possible lineups</h2>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YX5qkBlgkt3RTk8Xr59h49NaBcU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13126473/09222018_vs_spal.png">
<cite><a class="ql-link" href="http://www.sharemytacics.com/" target="_blank">Share My Tactics</a></cite>
<figcaption>Gerson or Fernandes, Eysseric or Pjaca or Mirallas; Vicari or Djourou, Missiroli or Everton Luiz</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="7ki90R">How to watch</h2>
<p id="ULiuRh"><strong>TV</strong>: Check BeIn if you’re in the southern hemisphere, but otherwise make plans to stream this one. Check the full international listings <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3071912/fiorentina-vs-spal/">here</a> just in case, though.</p>
<p id="Pz8XV6"><strong>Online</strong>: <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3071912/fiorentina-vs-spal/">Here</a> is your list of safe, reliable, and legal streams.</p>
<h2 id="Ap9Qj7">Ted’s Memorial Blind Guess Department</h2>
<p id="qQ16LO">I think this one will be a slugfest, with each team determined to outlast the other. Even though the SPAL forwards lack pace, Pioli probably won’t push his defensive line too high so that his midfield has a safe option back at all times. Indeed, Fiorentina will dominate the ball here, and this will be the first match, perhaps, where they’ll need to show their willingness to proactively look for goals in possession rather than bursting forward on the counter. That said, I don’t think that SPAL has the quality to keep Chiesa at bay for 90 minutes, so I’m calling it a 1-0 to the hosts behind a second-half Fede strike in a match that’s not particularly fun to watch for the neutral. Don’t be shocked to see a sending off, either, as Ghersini may look to punish the visitors for persistent fouling to slow things down.</p>
<p id="cjkdHC"><strong>Forza Viola!</strong></p>
https://www.violanation.com/2018/9/21/17883656/fiorentina-spal-preview-prediction-h2h-serie-a-lineups-formation-watch-online-streamThe Tito