Serie A | Gameweek 15

Dec 8, 2024 at 11.30am UK

Stadio Artemio Franchi

Fiorentinavs.Cagliari

Match preview

After a tough night last Sunday when midfielder Edoardo Bove was injured, causing Fiorentina's home game against Inter Milan to be cancelled, the Tuscan club were back in action just three days later when they played local rivals Empoli.

With Bove on the mend and sending his best wishes from hospital, the Viola took part in this season's second Derby dell'Arno in the Coppa Italia.

After a 0-0 league draw between the clubs in September, Fiorentina came back strong on Wednesday evening, scoring four goals. Moise Kean and Riccardo Sottil led the charge with strikes that put them on course for victory and a place in the quarter-finals.

However, Empoli equalised at the end and the match went to penalties. Kean missed a crucial spot kick, so Raffaele Palladino's team just have Serie A and the Conference League to focus on for the rest of the season.

Both campaigns are looking good. Fiorentina's recent 3-2 win over Pafos put them in one of eight automatic qualifying spots for the Conference League's last 16. They're also doing well in the Italian top flight.

They've already picked up 28 points, and if they win on Sunday, they'll surpass 30 at this stage for the first time ever. They'll also equal a club record for successive Serie A wins – a run of eight between February and April 1960.

They've got a great track record against Cagliari. They've gone seven league matches unbeaten against them and no team has picked up more points against opponents from the bottom half of the table this season.

On the other hand, no team has picked up fewer points than Cagliari against opponents in the top half of the standings – just two – ahead of their trip to Florence.

The Rossoblu will be travelling north on a growing unbeaten streak, following two draws and a win from their last three outings. This is helping them record their best start to a top-flight campaign since 2019.

After three straight losses, Davide Nicola's team ended their run by drawing 3-3 with AC Milan. They came back from the November international break with another point after Roberto Piccoli scored late in the game against Genoa.

Piccoli scored again in last week's match against Hellas Verona, which ended in a 1-0 win for Cagliari. This took them clear of the relegation zone and into a crowded mid-table position.

It was also a rare clean sheet for Nicola to celebrate, but his team will now be put through some much tougher tests. Between league games against Fiorentina and Atalanta BC, they must meet Juventus in the Coppa Italia.

Recent Performance

Fiorentina Serie A form:WWWWWW

Fiorentina form (all competitions):WLWWWL

Cagliari Serie A form:LLLDDW

Team News

After making a couple of changes midweek – continuing his experiment with Lucas Martinez Quarta in midfield, plus playing cup goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano – Fiorentina boss Raffaele Palladino should recall David de Gea and Yacine Adli on Sunday.

The only player who won't be playing for the hosts is Edoardo Bove, who's still in hospital after he collapsed during the game against Inter.

It looks like Moise Kean will be starting up front. He'll be hoping to overcome his Coppa Italia disappointment and reach double figures in the league this season. Albert Gudmundsson could support him, having recently returned from a layoff.

Meanwhile, Cagliari's front line is led by Roberto Piccoli, who has scored against the most different teams in Serie A without ever managing more than one goal against a single opponent (17). He could iron out that kink in his record by adding to February's strike versus the Viola for Lecce.

The visitors are also in a good position in terms of injuries, with only Gianluca Lapadula doubtful due to a knock that has required him to train separately from the main group.

Albania international Alen Šehović has recently replaced former first-choice goalkeeper Simone Scuffet and is set to play again at Stadio Franchi.

Possible starting lineup

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

De Gea; Dodo, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Gosens; Adli, Cataldi; Colpani, Gudmundsson, Sottil; Kean

Cagliari possible starting lineup:

Sherri; Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Augello; Makoumbou, Adopo; Zortea, Gaetano, Luvumbo; Piccoli