Soccer Italy Serie A Prediction

Fiorentina vs AS Roma - Match Preview

⚽ 27 May 2023 - 16:00 GMT +0

After falling to a 2-1 defeat against Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia final in midweek, Fiorentina now returns to Serie A (SA) action for their final home game of the season. Despite just two league defeats since mid-February, La Viola has nothing but a top-half finish to play for in the final two rounds, so they’ll simply be aiming to finish the league season on a high as they look to build momentum ahead of their crucial UEFA Europa Conference League final against West Ham.

Returning to Florence could prove to be a boon for Vincenzo Italiano’s men, who have scored eight consecutive goals in home domestic action since the last time they conceded. That run includes a three-match run of home clean sheets, although it may be foolish to back them to extend that against Roma, aside from the hosts having been shut out just twice here in the last ten years (W3, D3, L5).

José Mourinho’s Roma was one of a few European hopefuls that benefitted from Juventus’ points deduction earlier this week. Even so, the revered tactician branded it a “joke” as he suggested he would have prepared for games differently if the deduction was imposed sooner. Regardless of Mourinho’s response and in spite of their six-game win drought in SA (D4, L2), Roma are now guaranteed a European place after Inter won the Coppa Italia in midweek.

The Giallorossi will hope to put a swift end to that drought with Juventus now breathing down their necks in seventh, yet a run of just one win from the last 12 competitive away games suggests that will be easier said than done (W1, D5, L6). Even though their push for the top-four in SA has all but fallen flat, at least they have the UEFA Europa League final against Sevilla to look forward to, with a coveted Champions League position on offer for the winners of that game.

📋 Players to watch: Nicolás González scored twice for Fiorentina in their European semi-final and he could prove influential here too after scoring the opener within five minutes in this fixture last season. Trying to marshall him may be Roma’s 21-year-old central midfielder Edoardo Bove, who scored the goal to secure his side’s place in a European final, and has won both of his prior appearances against Fiorentina by a two-goal margin.

⚡ Hot stat: Fiorentina has won just two of their 19 SA games against sides beginning the round above them (W2, D6, L11).