Fiorentina have had a full week to prepare for Friday’s game against Inter Milan but haven’t exactly been in the best form of late and could only manage a 1-1 draw with struggling Torino last time out.
Inter Milan lost the home leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final against Juventus, in which Ronaldo scored twice and became the highest-ever goal scorer in football history.
Inter Milan sit 2nd in the Serie A table, 22pts and nine positions above Fiorentina. Recent encounters between the two clubs have mostly gone the way of Inter Milan, who haven’t lost any of their last nine games against Fiorentina in all competitions.
Just last month Inter Milan secured a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia but did need extra-time in order to do so. Both teams have scored in six of the duo’s last seven meetings and over 2.5 goals have been produced in five of those matches.
Fiorentina have won two, drawn one and lost three of their last six fixtures, which means that with four wins, one draw and one defeat during hat same period, Inter Milan are the form favourites ahead of kick-off.
Both teams have scored in four of Fiorentina’s last six outings and over 2.5 goals have been produced in four of their last six matches as well, including a 6-0 defeat away at Napoli in January.
Four of Inter’s last six games have also seen at least three goals scored and both teams have scored in three of the visitor’s last six outings.
The hosts will be without the suspended Gaetano Castrovilli and Nikola Milenkovic on Friday, while Inter Milan are believed to have a clean bill of health and no suspended players.
Lukaku has scored in each of his last two appearances against Fiorentina and following a rest in midweek (due to suspension), the big Belgian striker will be ready to make that three in three on Friday.
Inter will move top of the table with a win and that should be more than enough motivation for Conte’s side. Fiorentina boast a disappointing defensive record for a mid-table side and that defence is bound to get tested once again on Friday night against the divisions most potent strike partnership, Lukaku and Martinez.
The hosts have only kept one clean sheet in their last six attempts and Inter Milan have scored at least two goals in four of their last six matches, so a 2-0 away win could be on the cards.