Fiorentina-Milan is a Serie A Week 25 match played on Saturday at 20:45: odds, predictions, TV and streaming
Stefano Pioli, after a nightmarish January in which the Rossoneri’s defence had started to leak all over the place, was forced to run for cover.
The turning point that could have changed his AC Milan’s destiny dates back to last February 10 when, on the occasion of the match against Torino, the coach from Emilia decided to switch to a three-man defence, at the same time giving a chance to the young German defender Malick Thiaw, who arrived in the summer from Schalke 04. Two moves that, for now, seem to prove the 19th Scudetto leader right. Since the victory with the Granata, the reigning Italian champions have not stopped since: they beat Tottenham in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 and in the next two championship matches they won, continuing to keep their goal unbeaten, in the two Lombardy derbies against Monza and Atalanta. The most probing test was certainly last Sunday’s one against the Nerazzurri, a direct competitor for the Champions League placing. The success over the Dea certified the ‘comeback’ of Milan, who in the night of San Siro also found again two staples like Maignan and Ibrahimovic.
Milan in goal for eight games against the Viola
In the standings, the Rossoneri caught up with their Inter cousins, who stumbled in Bologna as they did last year. There is no longer any question of defending the title, especially after the incredible escape of Napoli: the ‘scudetto’, as Pioli told journalists a few days ago, will be to finish in the top four, so as to be able to replay the cup with big ears.
Saponara and Biraghi
Not even Fiorentina have managed to live up to expectations, far from the seventh place that allowed them to taste Europe again last season. The Viola are in twelfth place and only last Monday broke their fast of victories in the championship, obtaining a comfortable success against Verona (0-3) and especially finding again the goals, among the main causes of the non-exalting path of the violets. Vincenzo Italiano’s team, now +11 over the third-last place, can now concentrate on the cups: on Thursday they will face the Turkish Sivasspor in the Conference League, while in April they will contend with Cremonese for a place in the final of the Italian Cup. Last year the Viola got the better of AC Milan 4-3 in Florence, but in their last 16 home matches with the Rossoneri they have barely beaten them three times. Another statistic that instils confidence in the Diavolo is goals: they have always scored at least one against the Viola in their last eight matches.
Fiorentina-Milan: the latest line-up news
The Viola’s starting line-up is always a puzzle, especially on the eve of a European engagement. Milenkovic should be back in defence, although the Serbian centre-back is not at his best and is threatened by Martinez Quarta. In midfield there is a ballot between Mandragora, one of the best in recent matches, and the former Bonaventura. In attack, instead, the only sure of the place is Cabral, who also scored in the away match in Verona.
Pioli will be reunited with Calabria, who will take the place of Saelemaekers on the right in the 3-4-1-2, and Bennacer, who is ready to team up with Tonali. Chance for De Ketelaere in the three-quarter, behind the two strikers Giroud and Rebic. Also absent will be Leao, suspended by the sporting judge, and Brahim Diaz, injured.
The prediction
Pioli’s team have rediscovered solidity and certainty, but at the ‘Franchi’ they could be distracted by the imminent Champions League clash with Tottenham. And a Fiorentina side that has just ‘settled’ the table – and will be able to play this match with a clear head – could be a problem. Regardless of the final result, we’re basing this on precedent and think they could both score.
The Fiorentina-Milan likely line-ups
- FIORENTINA (4-3-3): Terracciano; Dodò, Milenkovic, Igor, Biraghi; Bonaventura, Amrabat, Barak; Gonzalez, Cabral, Saponara.
- MILAN (3-4-1-2): Maignan; Kalulu, Tomori, Thiaw; Calabria, Tonali, Bennacer, Hernandez; De Ketelaere; Rebic, Giroud.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
