Preview: Fiorentina vs. Frosinone - prediction, team news, lineups

While the Viola have made a slow start to 2024, their visitors arrive at Stadio Franchi amid their own downturn in form.

Match preview

Summing up their fortunes since the turn of the year, Fiorentina let a 2-1 lead slip in the dying moments of last week's game against Lecce, to slip further down the Serie A standings.

After fighting back from behind to take an advantage into the final few minutes at Stadio Via del Mare - thanks to goals from Rolando Mandragora and Lucas Beltran - the Viola allowed their hosts an opportunity to equalise, before Lecce full-back Patrick Dorgu stole in to win it during stoppage time.

A third defeat from four league matches means Fiorentina have picked up the joint-fewest points in 2024 - just one, alongside Salernitana - in addition to being well beaten by Napoli in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-finals.

Vincenzo Italiano's men had finished last year with three consecutive wins, which took them into Italy's top four, but their Champions League dreams have since taken a distinct nosedive.

While the Tuscan club are still in the Europa Conference League - and also edged past Bologna on penalties in the Coppa Italia, where they will meet Atalanta BC in the semis - such a slide must be arrested sooner rather than later.

Desperately seeking maximum points, Fiorentina now meet a team they have failed to beat in their last four league meetings - including September's reverse fixture at Stadio Benito Stirpe, which finished 1-1.

Like Sunday's hosts, Frosinone also came out with nothing from a five-goal thriller last weekend, when they gave AC Milan a major scare before faltering late on.

Goals from top scorer Matias Soule and captain Luca Mazzitelli gave the Canarini a 2-1 advantage with 20 minutes remaining, but Milan struck back to win 3-2 and consign their hosts to a sixth loss in eight Serie A matches.

During that time, Frosinone have conceded an average of 2.5 goals per game, only avoiding defeat against teams that started the day lower down the league table - beating Cagliari 3-1 and drawing with Hellas Verona.

At Stadio Stirpe, Eusebio Di Francesco's young side have picked up an impressive 20 points from 12 matches so far, to keep themselves clear of the relegation dogfight, but it has been an entirely different story on the road.

Last year's Serie B champions are one of three teams without an away victory in Serie A this season; in fact, Frosinone's last top-flight win on their travels came against none other than Fiorentina, back in April 2019.

Fiorentina Serie A form:

W

W

L

D

L

L

Fiorentina form (all competitions):

L

D

D

L

L

L

Frosinone Serie A form:

L

L

L

W

D

L

Frosinone form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

D

L

Team News

Though Jonathan Ikone is back in Fiorentina's squad following a one-match ban, Luca Ranieri must now serve a suspension, which could mean Serbian centre-back Nikola Milenkovic returns to the hosts' back four on Sunday.

Vincenzo Italiano hopes to have midfield metronome Arthur at his disposal, as the Brazilian was back in training on Thursday after a muscular problem forced him to sit out last week's trip to Lecce. However, Dodo and Gaetano Castrovilli remain confined to the treatment room, while Christian Kouame will be representing Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Battling it out with Lucas Beltran to start up front, on-loan striker Andrea Belotti has played a part in five goals in three previous Serie A matches against Frosinone - netting two braces and laying on one assist.

Meanwhile, the Canarini are burdened by a long injury list, with defensive quartet Riccardo Marchizza, Anthony Oyono, Mateus Lusuardi and Kevin Bonifazi among those unavailable.

Star man Matias Soule, who scored in September's reverse fixture and from the spot last weekend, has 10 league goals to his name this season; the Argentinian attacker should support another Juventus loanee, Kaio Jorge, up front.

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Duncan, Lopez; Gonzalez, Bonaventura, Ikone; Beltran

Frosinone possible starting lineup:

Turati; Lirola, Monterisi, Okoli, Valeri; Mazzitelli, Barrenechea; Seck, Soule, Gelli; Jorge

We say: Fiorentina 2-1 Frosinone

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