Fiorentina Host Juventus in Top-of-Table Derby
Two unbeaten sides, two perfect recent records and first place on the line when Fiorentina welcome Juventus to Florence.
Serie A's early title race has narrowed to a single point, and on Sunday afternoon that point will be defended in the most Italian of ways: a derby between the side that leads the table and the side chasing it. Juventus arrive top with 19 points from seven games, Fiorentina second on 18. Both have won their last five. There is no margin for a careless afternoon.
Fiorentina's problem is in the middle. Ernesto Tedesco, the defensive midfielder, is out with a tight hamstring and is not expected back until around 20 October; Jofre Costa has a twisted ankle and is not due back until early November. Saikou Manneh, Edvaldo and Jofre Costa are also on the absent list. That leaves the 4-2-3-1 to be held together by Andrea Nazzaro and the makeshift pairing in front of the back four, with Christos Gerardis likely to drop in from the left. It is an unfamiliar shape for a side that has looked settled.
Juventus have their own gaps: Daniel has a bruised shin and Giuseppe Cuomo a hip injury. Otherwise the 4-3-3 is intact, and it has been ruthless — 17 goals scored and none conceded in the seven games it has started.
The individual battles are worth the ticket. Cristian Fernández, the Fiorentina right winger, has averaged 7.33 in recent games and will meet Íñigo, a left-back with pace and tackling; the edge in that duel belongs to the defender. On the other flank, Luigi Volpe, 7.73, faces Matteo Sarini, 7.2. Up front, Gianpaolo Massimo has six goals in his last five and will test Juan Berenguel in the air, where the centre-back holds the advantage.
The recent meetings favour the visitors: a 1-1 draw in February, a 3-1 Juventus win in October 2062 and a 4-1 in January. Fiorentina need a point to stay level; Juventus need one to stay top. Neither side will be satisfied with that.