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

Although the Viola followed up last week's success with midweek defeat in Europe, their visitors will arrive at Stadio Franchi still on a high from a stunning comeback against Lazio.

Match preview

After narrowly missing out to West Ham United in June, the long road back to the Europa Conference League final began with a loss for Fiorentina, who were beaten 1-0 by Rapid Vienna on Thursday evening.

The Tuscan club will therefore trail heading into next week's second leg of their crucial playoff tie, and hopes of securing a spot in the group phase are now in some jeopardy.

While Vincenzo Italiano's men went all the way to the decider last season, only a UEFA suspension for Juventus opened the door to their return following an eighth-place finish in Serie A; but their quest to improve on an inconsistent 2022-23 campaign started well last weekend.

Within minutes of kickoff, Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi slammed home the opening goal against promoted Genoa, and his side were four goals to the good before an hour had been played at Stadio Luigi Ferrais, going on to record a comprehensive 4-1 win.

Via Vienna, the Viola now return to Stadio Franchi, where they have actually lost four of their last eight league games against Lecce. Having won each of their final three home fixtures of last season, though, they may expect to extend that streak and take maximum points on Sunday.

Lecce, of course, will have other ideas. Following their late fightback to stun last season's Serie A runners-up Lazio, the Salentini will surely travel to Florence full of confidence and keen to record another upset.

Sparked by a sweet strike from summer signing Pontus Almqvist in the 85th minute, their dramatic revival at Via del Mare was capped by Federico Di Francesco's scrappy finish just moments later, sending the home fans wild with delight.

As a result of such success, Lecce will now be aiming to go unbeaten in their first two games of a Serie A season for just the third time, and the first since 2004; indeed, the Puglian club have never before posted back-to-back wins to start a top-flight campaign.

After securing safety with a game to spare last term, former coach Marco Baroni departed for Hellas Verona. Nonetheless, new boss Roberto D'Aversa has already settled in down south, following some positive pre-season results with a Coppa Italia win over Como earlier this month - beating Lazio was then the icing on the cake.

As Lecce have won their first away match of a Serie A season only twice from 17 previous attempts, though, D'Aversa will be up against precedent this weekend.

Fiorentina Serie A form:

Lecce Serie A form:

Lecce form (all competitions):

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Team News

While Gaetano Castrovilli, Antonin Barak and Abdelhamid Sabiri are all set to miss out through injury once again - and Sofyan Amrabat was left out of Thursday's squad as he nears a transfer - Fiorentina can welcome Christian Kouame back from Serie A suspension on Sunday.

The latter will vie with several forward options - including Jonathan Ikone, who is a doubt due an adductor problem - to support either M'Bala Nzola or Lucas Beltran up front.

Nicolas Gonzalez should be included on the right wing, having found the net in his last two league appearances. After his goal in Genoa last week, each of the Argentinian's last three Serie A strikes have been headed - none of his previous 11 were.

Lecce, meanwhile, may select new signing Nikola Krstovic on the bench after completing a switch from DAC Dunajska Streda - for whom he averaged over a goal every two games - earlier this week.

While the Montenegrin striker settles in, Roberto D'Aversa is likely to persist with Gabriel Strefezza up front, with Federico Di Francesco possibly replacing Lameck Banda in the Giallorossi's attacking trident, which also features Pontus Almqvist.

Almqvist, who sparked last week's comeback and also scored the winner in a recent cup win over Como, completed seven dribbles against Lazio - the most for any Lecce player in a top-flight match since February 2012.

After overcoming an ankle problem to feature as a substitute last week, Antonino Gallo is set to return at left-back; summer signing Lorenzo Venuti, who has shrugged off a shoulder injury earlier than expected, could now be named on the bench.

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

Terraciano; Dodo, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Parisi; Arthur, Duncan; Gonzalez, Bonaventura, Sottil; Nzola

Lecce possible starting lineup:

Falcone; Gendrey, Pongracic, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Gonzalez, Rafia; Almqvist, Strefezza, Di Francesco

We say: Fiorentina 3-1 Lecce

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