Both clubs are in fine form before they meet on Wednesday night, as Fiorentina face Serie B promotion contenders Benevento in the Coppa Italia second round.
The Viola were convincing winners at the weekend to keep their push for a return to Europe ticking over, while their visitors have won four games on the spin to sit just four points off top spot in the second tier.
Match preview
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Having surely established themselves as genuine top six contenders in Serie A with a fourth win from five on Saturday afternoon, Fiorentina turn their attention to cup competition, which appears to be ideally suited to their progressive style of play.
Approaching the season's halfway point, Vincenzo Italiano's men have won 10 and lost seven of their 17 league games so far, and the coach's all-or-nothing approach has brought the vibrant Viola into the mix for European football next year.
They look down upon Juventus and both Rome clubs in the standings following last weekend's 4-0 crushing of rock-bottom Salernitana, when star striker Dusan Vlahovic was at the double - bringing his tally in 2021 to 32 Serie A strikes. In the last 60 years, only one man has posted more in a calendar year: Cristiano Ronaldo's 33 during 2020.
It has been far from a solo effort, though, as Italiano's impact has got the best out of several underperforming players and a well-chosen handful of summer signings.
Amid the Tuscan club's best start since 2015, they have now come out on top at Stadio Artemio Franchi in their five most recent home games, scoring at least three times on each occasion, which makes them an intimidating prospect on Florentine soil.
Indeed, Fiorentina started the campaign with a win in their first competitive game this term: knocking Cosenza out in the Coppa Italia first round with a 4-0 victory. Vlahovic also found the net twice that day, and has not stopped scoring since, but even if he is rested on Wednesday the Viola will be overwhelming favourites to progress to the last 16.
Benevento, though, will offer an attacking threat of their own, as the joint-top scorers in Serie B. Eleven goals in their last four matches - each of which have brought three points for the Stregoni - means that they will certainly fancy their chances of an upset this week.
The Campanian outfit - relegated from the top flight following an irreversible slump during the second half of last term under former coach Fillipo Inzaghi - are currently fourth in the division, with every chance of making a quick return.
With well-travelled Peru striker Gianluca Lapadula adding another two goals to his impressive total last Friday - taking him into double figures this term - the Giallorossi overcame Ternana to further their ambition of achieving automatic promotion.
All being well in the league, Fabio Caserta's side can enjoy their trip to Tuscany in good spirits, having secured their place at this stage of the Coppa Italia by virtue of a last-gasp extra-time winner in the previous round.
After Gabriele Moncini had scored an own goal to send their tie with SPAL into extra time, the striker went from villain to hero by scoring with the last kick of the game from the penalty spot. More heroics may be required at the Franchi in this round, though, if Benevento are to replicate their 1-0 league win there just over a year ago.
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Team News
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Vincenzo Italiano is expected to make a series of changes to his XI, amid a busy schedule in Serie A before the winter break. The Fiorentina boss hopes to have Gaetano Castrovilli back at his disposal on Wednesday, and the Italy international could form part of the hosts' three-man midfield.
A bit-part player so far this term, Youssef Maleh has scored in successive games, so is another strong contender for a place in the centre of the park. Erick Pulgar recently recovered from an ankle injury and could make his first start since that layoff.
Meanwhile, centre-back Matija Nastasic (calf) is set to be sidelined once again, but first-choice goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski is closing in on a comeback and may make the bench.
Before the trip north, Benevento have concerns over full-back Daam Foulon, who has been struggling with a thigh problem since late last month and has yet to return, while captain Gaetano Letizia suffered a muscular injury against Vicenza and is also likely to remain missing from the visitors' back four.
Top scorer Gianluca Lapadula starts up front, with Roberto Insigne and Riccardo Improta likeliest to start in support, though Gabriele Moncini - the Giallorossi's matchwinner in the previous round - is another option.
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Venuti, Milenkovic, Igor, Biraghi; Maleh, Pulgar, Duncan; Saponara, Vlahovic, Sottil
Benevento possible starting lineup:
Paleari; Elia, Vogliacco, Glik, Barba; Ionita, Viviani, Acampora; Insigne, Lapadula, Improta
We say: Fiorentina 3-1 Benevento
While the chances of an entertaining encounter are high, the probability of Benevento springing a surprise on their high-flying hosts is less so.
Fiorentina boast a buoyant squad, with several fringe players ready to step in and impress, so should take the direct route through to the next round.
Jonathan O'Shea
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Fiorentina win with a probability of 50.26%. A win for Benevento had a probability of 25.52% and a draw had a probability of 24.2%.
The most likely scoreline for a Fiorentina win was 1-0 with a probability of 10.21%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (9.6%) and 2-0 (8.55%). The likeliest Benevento win was 0-1 (6.85%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.46%). The actual scoreline of 2-1 was predicted with a 9.6% likelihood. Our team at Sports Mole and our data analysis both correctly predicted that Fiorentina would win this match.
