Serie A Preview: ACF Fiorentina – AS Bari
Viola hit the rock bottom
Viola languishes last in the league with 5 points from opening seven rounds of Serie A. The club has recorded a single victory, that too over a disappointing Parma FC side therefore it will be vital for them to make a comeback now. Viola is yet to face the
big four of Serie A (Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus and AS Roma) and the outlook isn’t very bright for the Florence based outfit.
Gigliati’s ambitions have been severely hampered by the absence of Stevan Jovetic who suffered a horrible knee injury in preseason. Last year, the Montenegro forward was arguably Fiorentina’s player of the season; his sublime outings in the UEFA Champions
League were a joy to watch. While Jovetic will be out for at least three more months, Viola will take solace in the fact that Romanian Forward Adrian Mutu is nearing a return from a 9 month ban following his enforced suspension.
The club will look to put their campaign back on track with an assured performance against a modest Galletti outfit. Sinisa Mihajlović is under immense pressure to get his team firing, former Brazil coach Dunga has already shown interest in Viola’s hot seat
and yet another poor Gigliati performance will see Sinisa getting the marching orders.
Bari struggling to make an impact
AS Bari was the surprise package of Calcio last season as they finished an impressive 10th in the league. For a side to win 51 points in the return season to Serie A is truly an impressive feat. This season however, Serie A has improved tremendously
and Bari is feeling the heat from the competition. In the absence of defensive stalwarts Leonardo Bonucci and Andre Ranocchia, the team is leaking in goals with worrying regularity. Bari has the second worst defensive record in Serie A with 11 goals being
conceded against them.
On a positive note, Galletti have already negotiated the likes of Juventus, Lazio and Inter Milan. The club will now look forward to an easier run of games.
Team News
ACF Fiorentina
Fiorentina will be without the services of Jovetic, D'Agostino and Mario Bolatti as all three are out injured. Skipper Ricardo Montolivo will return from suspension while Adrian Mutu is still serving his nine month suspension.
Expected Formation
Fiorentina will take to the pitch with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Alberto Gilardino will play as the lone striker while Adem Ljajic will play just behind him in the trequartista role. Marco Marchionni and Juan Manuel Vargas will flank the Serbian playmaker. Ricardo
Montolivo and Marco Donadel will play in centre of the pitch. Sebastian Frey’s breathtaking form in goal over the last couple of seasons will keep Artur Boruc out of the first team.
Probable Line up
Sebastian Frey, Lorenzo De Silvestri, Alessandro Gamberini, Felipe, Per Kroldrup, Ricardo Montolivo, Marco Donadel, Marco Marchionni, Juan Manuel Vargas, Adem Ljajic, Alberto Gilardino
AS Bari
Giampiero Ventura will be without several key players for the trip to Florence. Andrea Raggi has been ruled out from the fixture. Sergio Almiron and Barreto will travel with the team but their participation in the fixture is highly doubtful.
Expected Formation
Bari will line up in a 4-4-2 formation. Jose Castillo and Barreto will lead the line. Massimo Donati will deputise for the injured Almiron while Alessandro Gazzi will partner him in midfield. Edgar Alvarez and Abdel Ghezzal will provide the width.
Probable Line up
Jean-François Gillet, Nicola Belmonte, Andrea Masiello, Marco Rossi, Salvatore Masiello, Edgar Alvarez, Massimo Donati, Alessandro Gazzi, Adbelkader Ghezzal, Barreto, José Ignacio Castillo
Key Players
Juan Manuel Vargas
Vargas was arguably the best left winger in Europe last season. The Peruvian has been lacking in quality this time around and his dip in form has coincided with Gilardino’s goal drought. Vargas will have to step up his game for Fiorentina to sort their act
out.
Jean-François Gillet
Gillet will be tested from time to time by a talented Viola attack and AS Bari skipper will have to put in a captain’s performance tonight for Galletti to eke out a result.
Prediction
Fiorentina has been playing well below their best. Montolivo has pleaded with the fans to come out in droves and support the home team. Bari has found it hard to replicate their defensive nous from last season and therefore are expected to concede. It is
expected that Fiorentina will edge out the Galletti by a 1 – 0 score line.
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