Serie A | Gameweek 17

Dec 23, 2024 at 5.30pm UK

Stadio Artemio Franchi

Fiorentina vs Udinese

Match preview

Fiorentina's club-record run of eight consecutive Serie A victories came to an end when they lost the Derby dell'Appennino to a Bologna side managed by former boss Vincenzo Italiano, but they remain in good shape for a top-four challenge.

The Tuscan outfit last lost back-to-back league games in April, but still sit above Calcio giants AC Milan and Juventus in the standings - and with a game in hand.

They travelled to the north of Portugal in midweek to take on Conference high-flyers Vitoria de Guimaraes, and Rolando Mandragora's late equaliser was enough to send them through to the last 16 without the need for a play-off.

Fiorentina now return to Florence, where they have excelled so far this season: in all competitions, Raffaele Palladino's men have scored 32 goals on home soil, more than any other Serie A side.

They are unbeaten in 19 home games - 13 of which have been wins - and their last defeat at the Stadio Franchi came back in March, their best home run in 16 years.

Since returning to the top flight two decades ago, the Viola have also won more games (16) and scored more goals (49) at home to Udinese than any other opponent, so history suggests they will be able to claim maximum points on Monday.

Despite this dismal record at the Franchi, Udinese have won three of their last seven league meetings with Fiorentina, with the outlier being a 2-2 draw in their last encounter in early 2024.

They now meet again at the end of the year, with the visitors having endured a prolonged slump that has threatened to derail what looked like a promising campaign.

After winning three and drawing one of their opening four Serie A games under Kosta Runjaic, who was appointed after the Friuli side narrowly avoided relegation last term, Udinese have now lost eight of their last 12.

Although they still occupy a relatively safe mid-table position, last week's 3-1 defeat to Napoli means they have now won just one of their last seven league games.

Furthermore, the Bianconeri made a meek exit from the Coppa Italia on Thursday night, conceding two first-half goals to Inter Milan at the San Siro and rarely threatening to fight back.

Recent Performance

Fiorentina Serie A form:WWWWWL

Fiorentina form (all competitions):WLWWLD

Udinese Serie A form:LLDLWL

Udinese form (all competitions):LDLWLL

Team News

Raffaele Palladino has made seven changes to the side that faced Bologna in the final game of Fiorentina's latest Conference League campaign, and most of those changes will be reversed on Monday night.

David de Gea returns between the sticks, Moise Kean starts up front and Michael Kayode replaces Dodo, who is suspended.

Kean needs one more goal to reach double figures for the first time in Serie A: the last Italian to score at least 10 goals in a season for the Viola was Federico Chiesa five years ago.

Udinese, meanwhile, are set to make another change after shaking up their line-up for the clash with Inter. In particular, Alexis Sanchez finally made the first appearance of his second spell with the Friuli giants, surprisingly starting against his former club, although it remains to be seen whether he can play two games in four days.

Instead, French striker Florian Thauvin is likely to partner top scorer Lorenzo Lucca in the final third.

Sandi Lovric suffered a thigh injury in last week's defeat at Napoli and joins Oier Zarraga, Martin Payero, Keinan Davis and first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye on the sidelines.

Possible starting lineup

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

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

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Sava; Kristensen, Bijol, Giannetti; Ehizibue, Atta, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, ​​Zemura; Thauvin, Lucca