Overview
After a disappointing start in this year's Serie A season, Fiorentina's goal has shifted from competing for a European cup spot to the relegation battle. And up to now, they are very close to completing that goal.
Although the 0-4 defeat to Roma ended the 7-match unbeaten streak, Paolo Vanoli still gradually moved the representative of the Tuscany region away from the dangerous group.
Even if Cremonese - the team currently ranked 18th - unexpectedly wins all three final rounds, Fiorentina only needs one more point to officially stay in the league in theory.
Positive signals are clearly appearing. Fiorentina is unbeaten in the last 6 home matches in Serie A and has only conceded one goal in the last 5 matches, including a draw against new champion Inter Milan.
Head-to-head history is also on the side of the home team Artemio Franchi. Fiorentina is unbeaten in their last 10 encounters with Genoa in Serie A, including a 2-2 draw in the first leg in November last year.
That match had special meaning for both teams, as Vanoli had just been appointed by Fiorentina, and Genoa welcomed Daniele De Rossi to the Liguria capital.
The Roma legend has created a significant impact when replacing Patrick Vieira on the coaching bench. Under De Rossi, a Genoa that once sank in crisis and faced the risk of relegation has transformed dramatically.
In the period from late winter to early spring, the red and blue team created a safe gap with the relegation group thanks to five wins in 8 matches. However, they only won one point in the last two rounds.
After a 0-2 defeat to Como at the end of April, De Rossi's team drew 0-0 against Atalanta. That result also meant Genoa kept a clean sheet in half of their most recent away matches, specifically four out of eight away trips. However, the trip to Florence is still predicted to be difficult.
Not only has Genoa won exactly one of the last 16 confrontations with Fiorentina in Serie A, but Genoa has not had a triumph at Artemio Franchi since 1977.
Personnel situation
Moise Kean has been struggling with a tibia injury lasting for the past two months. The Fiorentina striker was even allowed to be sidelined last week for family reasons, but he may reappear in the match against Genoa.
Roberto Piccoli, who regularly plays alongside Kean in attack, has also been absent in the last 2 matches. However, the Italian striker has now returned to normal training.
In the context that neither Kean nor Piccoli is in the best physical condition, Albert Gudmundsson is likely to continue to be used in the center forward position. The Icelandic player has scored in both encounters with Genoa in Serie A, including the first leg this season.
In other positions, Niccolo Fortini and Luis Balbo are approaching their return days after injury. However, full-back Tariq Lamptey is still not ready to reappear.
On the Genoa side, Tommaso Baldanzi and Brazilian midfielder Junior Messias will be absent due to muscle injuries. Meanwhile, Brooke Norton-Cuffy's ability to play is still open.
After almost certainly avoiding relegation, Daniele De Rossi may consider personnel and tactical adjustments. This opens up opportunities for Ruslan Malinovskyi to return to the starting lineup.
Expected lineup:
Fiorentina: De Gea, Dodo, Pongracic, Ranieri, Gosens, Ndour, Fagioli, Mandragora, Harrison, Gudmundsson, Solomon.
Genoa: Bijlow, Marcandalli, Ostigard, Vasquez, Sabelli, Frendrup, Malinovskyi, Martin, Ekhator, Vitinha, Colombo.
The match between Fiorentina and Genoa takes place at 8:00 p.m. on May 10 (Vietnam time).
