Fiorentina vs Torino preview

May 17, 2014
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Fiorentina vs TorinoFourth-placed Fiorentina aim to end the season on a high even if there is nothing riding on this match for them, unlike their opponents.

Torino will secure a rare European qualification if they remain in sixth position and for that to happen they need to win at Artemio Franchi.

Viola chiefs cannot be entirely satisfied with how this season panned out as Vincenzo Montella’s side failed to clinch Champions League qualification, while missing out on the Coppa Italia trophy.

Nevertheless, the fact they finished the league campaign in fourth place, ahead of giants Inter, Milan and Lazio, should give Fiorentina something to build on ahead of the new season.

Injuries to star players Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Gomez seriously hurt team’s top 3 chances, but the good news is the Italy international has returned into action and is even tipped to start against Torino.

And even if the hosts have little to play for, they can be trusted to play it fair and square, which is why odds of 3.90 (29/10) offered on home win are quite tempting.

Viola haven’t been to impressive at home of late, losing four of last five matches at Artemio Franchi, but don’t expect them to roll over for Torino though.

Ryder Matos misses out through suspension, whereas Stefan Savic, Modibo Diakite, Rafal Wolski and Mario Gomez are out injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Rosati – Tomovic, Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Pasqual – Aquilani, Pizarro, Valero – Ilicic – Cuadrado, Rossi.

Torino are one win away from capping off a memorable season with European qualification, which would be a just reward for some impressive displays this term.

After avoiding the relegation tussle altogether in their first campaign upon returning to the elite division, Granata have done much better than anyone expected this season and they enter the final game of the league campaign from a position that guarantees Europa League football.

The run of five wins in seven games saw Torino climb to sixth in the Serie A standings, but with Parma, Milan and Verona all breathing down their necks, Granada cannot relax just yet.

Having failed to beat top 6 rivals Parma last weekend, Giampiero Ventura’s charges need to defeat Fiorentina on Sunday, and they have been made 1.95 (19/20) favourites to claim maximum points.

And while Granata did win two of their last three away matches, it is important to note they picked up just one point from last four games on the road against top table sides.

To add insult to injury, top scorer Ciro Immobile and important defender Cesar Bovo are banned, while Masiello, Pasquale, Farnerud and Basha are unavailable as well.

Probable starting line-up (3-5-2): Padelli – Gilk, Rodriguez, Moretti – Maksimovic, Kurtic, Vives, El Kaddouri, Darmian – Cerci, Meggiorini.

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