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

While three decades have passed since Il Toro last lifted the trophy, Fiorentina's most recent cup triumph came in 2001, so both will be keen to secure a spot in the semis versus either Roma or Cremonese.

Match preview

Sitting 12th in the table after a run of just one win from six league games, Fiorentina's season may well be defined by their progress in knockout competitions, given the growing distance between them and Serie A's top six.

Following their 1-1 draw at Lazio last weekend - earned by a second-half Nicolas Gonzalez equaliser - the Viola are some 13 points adrift of sixth-placed Roma, and even a repeat of last term's top-seven finish seems a stretch given their lack of firepower.

The Tuscan club's last major silverware came in the Coppa Italia, when they defeated Parma in a two-legged final 22 years ago, though only four teams have won more Coppas in the competition's long history.

Also hoping to follow in Roma's footsteps by winning the Europa Conference League - a tie against Braga awaits in mid-February - Vincenzo Italiano's current side would dearly love to end that drought in May.

Having already overcome Sampdoria in the last 16, with Antonin Barak notching the only goal of the game at Stadio Franchi, Fiorentina now aim to defy faltering league form and reach the final four once again - they were eliminated by Juventus in the semis last year.

Perhaps holding Lazio in the capital will provide a timely boost after losing their previous two matches without scoring a goal - including a 1-0 home defeat to Wednesday's opponents.

Torino therefore have a victory at the Franchi fresh in their memory ahead of the clubs' cup clash, and a late fightback on Saturday may have kept momentum building in their favour.

After knocking out Milan in the Coppa's last 16 - when the unheralded Michel Adopo struck in extra time to help 10-man Toro topple the Scudetto holders at San Siro - they were then beaten by Spezia but won in Florence six days later, and a 2-2 draw in Empoli was warmly welcomed at the weekend.

Trailing by two to one of Serie A's most improved sides, the Granata stormed back during the final 10 minutes to haul themselves level through strikes from Samuele Ricci and Antonio Sanabria; as a result, they remained above their hosts in the standings and still occupy a spot in the top half.

Despite having taken four points from back-to-back fixtures in Tuscany, Torino have now kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 away matches - though that solitary shutout did, of course, come versus Fiorentina.

Like the Viola, any chances of Ivan Juric's men achieving European qualification via Serie A seem slim - even if they now lead old rivals Juventus by four points due to recent off-field events - but having beaten the Italian champions after sweeping past Palermo (3-0) and Cittadella (4-0) in the opening rounds, Coppa Italia glory could yet be theirs this season.

Fiorentina Coppa Italia form:

W

Fiorentina form (all competitions):

D

W

W

L

L

D

Torino Coppa Italia form:

W

W

W

Torino form (all competitions):

D

D

W

L

W

D

Team News

Though just one step away from a place in the semi-finals, Vincenzo Italiano may make some changes to his Fiorentina lineup in midweek, with Arthur Cabral now back in contention after injury and aiming to get the nod over Luka Jovic up front.

Riccardo Sottil and Gaetano Castrovilli are still sidelined by injury, but Lucas Martinez Quarta can return to the back four, while new arrival Salvatore Sirigu could debut against his former club - the latter was part of an unusual loan-trade deal with Pierluigi Gollini, who has been sent to Napoli in exchange for the veteran goalkeeper.

The subject of intense transfer speculation this winter, Nicolas Gonzalez should now remain in Florence until the end of the season, and the Argentinian winger will hope to keep his place after ending the Viola's goal drought on Sunday.

Torino have also made some manoeuvres in the market, as Sasa Lukic is bound for Fulham and fellow midfielder Ivan Ilic has been snatched from Marseille's clutches to reunite with Ivan Juric, his former boss at Hellas Verona.

Suspended centre-back Kofi Djidji and injured Pietro Pellegri join longer-term absentee Valentino Lazaro in missing the trip to Tuscany, but Ola Aina recently returned and is a contender to start on either flank of Juric's favoured 3-4-2-1 formation.

As the unlikely hero of the previous round, Michel Adopo could be involved too, while Antonio Sanabria and Demba Seck battle it out to lead the visitors' attack.

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

Sirigu; Venuti, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Amrabat, Duncan; Ikone, Barak, Gonzalez; Jovic

Torino possible starting lineup:

Milinkovic-Savic; Zima, Buongiorno, Rodriguez; Aina, Ricci, Adopo, Vojvoda; Miranchuk, Vlasic; Sanabria

We say: Fiorentina 1-2 Torino

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