Fiorentina will restart the Serie A season after the Christmas break sitting in fifth place. La Viola had a strong first part of the campaign and are just three points off the top three.
Torino didn’t have the same strong start to the season. Il Toro are 10th in the standings after 17 matches.
Training day💜⚜️#forzaviola #fiorentina #violapark pic.twitter.com/jtUdw8u5S3— ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) December 27, 2023
Training day💜⚜️#forzaviola #fiorentina #violapark pic.twitter.com/jtUdw8u5S3
However, just six points separate them with fifth-place Fiorentina ahead of their match on Friday.
These teams divided up their last six head-to-head encounters with two wins, two draws, and two defeats apiece.
Torino took four points six points on offer during the 2022-23 season against Fiorentina.
Il Toro posted a 1-0 win away at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. In the reverse fixture, Torino picked up a 1-1 draw at home.
Of course, the teams met in between their Serie A fixtures in the Coppa Italia, with Fiorentina winning 2-1.
Fiorentina will restart the season in fine form. They took 13 points from the last 18 points on offer in the league.
La Viola went unbeaten in each of their last four Serie A fixtures. The team’s defence was stingy during that time, conceding a goal in the four fixtures.
Torino, on the other hand, secured nine points from the last 18 points available to them. They too are on a four-match unbeaten run ahead of matchday No. 18.
Torino’s defence also played well in recent fixtures. Like Fiorentina, Torino conceded just one goal in the last four fixtures in Serie A.
Perhaps the difference in this match could be Fiorentina’s home form. They are on a three-game winning streak in matches played at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Torino won just one of their last six matches away from home. Only eight of Torino’s 24 points came from away fixtures. On the road, Torino conceded 17 goals and scored 15 times.
Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano is unlikely to have midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura available due to a leg injury.
Bonaventura will be a massive absentee for Italiano. The midfielder leads the team in scoring with six goals.
Nico Gonzalez is also likely to miss out following a thigh injury. Tommaso Martinelli and Dodo are both ruled out for the fixture.
Torino coach Ivan Juric will be without long-term absentee Perr Schurrs. He is recovering from an ACL injury.
Despite the injury issues, Fiorentina should post a fourth straight Serie A win at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Torino’s poor road record should play into La Viola’s hands. It should be a close, low-scoring game, with Fiorentina winning 1-0.