Fiorentina are fighting for their lives at the moment seeing they sit just three points clear of the relegation zone and Viola are in a position to have to search for a win against Inter. The Neroazzurri got back in contention for Champions League places with a hard-fought victory over Siena, and now plan to continue the good run at Artemio Franchi.

Key attackers missing out

On paper Fiorentina boast a very good squad of players and probably deserve to enter the race for European places, but the reality is the team are not playing to their potential and are now battling for Serie A survival. With several key players widely tipped to leave the club at the end of the season, both Sinisa Mihajlovic and Delio Rossi have failed to create a homogenous unit at Artemio Franchi and the lack of team spirit is one of the main reasons for dismal results this season. Viola ended the disappointing run of results with a shock victory over Milan, but one swallow does not a summer make and everybody knows that it was a one-off result rather than anything else. Home draw with Palermo, one of the worst travelers in Serie A, proves the claim and now the hosts will be in for another difficult task. Besides all their problems, Fiorentina will be without key strikers Stevan Jovetic and Amauri, who scored 17 of team’s 32 goals this term, and there are no doubts they will be sorely missed.

Amauri misses out through suspension, whereas Stevan Jovetic, Per Kroldrup and Juan Manuel Vargas are out injured.

Inter showing improvement

Inter have suffered so many disappoints this season that they forgot what success looks like, but the team have been showing a lot of improvement under new boss Andrea Stramaccioni. The talented coach led the Neroazzurri to 7 points in 3 Serie A games and the good run of results helped them return in contention for Champions League places. Catching third-placed Lazio and neutralizing a six-point gap will be no easy task, but the Noerazzurri are determined to give it a shot and at least ensure Europa League football next season. The mini-break in the league campaign has done Inter a world of good as they not only had plenty of time to work on tactics, but also had key midfielder Wesley Sneijder return from injury. All things considered, the Neroazzurri have got a good chance of beating out-of-sorts Fiorentina at Artemio Franchi.

Wesley Sneijder has resumed full training and he will be in contention, but Walter Samuel is suspended and Maicon and Luc Castaignos are injured.

Verdict

Fiorentina are under huge pressure after slipping into the relegation zone and with Jovetic and Amauri missing they will have to work hard to reach Julio Cesar’s goal. Inter, on the other hand, have upped their game of late and with Sneijder back to the side, they should be able to pick up all three points from Artemio Franchi.

Our prediction: Inter Draw no bet

Odds: 1.73 (8/11)

Bookmaker: Sportingbet