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

With lots still to play for across the division, this fixture is one without too much riding on it.

Match preview

Salernitana continued to show why they have not been involved in a relegation scrap so far this season when they drew away to champions-elect Napoli on Sunday.

That result in Naples prevented the Partenopei from clinching the title, as Salernitana spoiled the party with a late Boulaye Dia equaliser.

It extended the Granata's unbeaten run to nine games - seven of which have been drawn - meaning they should avoid the frantic finish they had to last season.

Salernitana only survived on the final day after a remarkable recovery from being cut adrift, but there has been no second-season syndrome for them this campaign, with the side currently seven points clear of danger.

Manager Paulo Sousa is keen to stress the job is not done yet with six games to play, but sides below them such as Empoli and Spezia are really faltering while Salernitana continue to pick up points on a weekly basis.

Fiorentina come into this fixture possibly with their minds elsewhere, knowing that they have nothing left to play for on the league front.

La Viola are one of six teams marooned in mid-table with no hope of finishing in the European places while not having any worries of relegation either.

Despite a 5-0 thrashing of bottom-placed Sampdoria on Sunday, Vincenzo Italiano's side are now fully expected to focus on the two cup competitions they remain in.

They completed the job in midweek by seeing off Cremonese to reach the Coppa Italia final against Inter Milan, while they face Basel in the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals too.

Both competitions offer Fiorentina the chance to qualify for the Europa League next season, as the 10-point deficit to Atalanta means there is slim chance of doing so via the league route.

Therefore, this fixture may be used to try to keep confidence levels high especially after a big win at the weekend.

Fiorentina have never won in Salerno in the top flight though, but they have won three of their last four away games in Serie A, all to nil.

Salernitana Serie A form:

D

D

D

D

W

D

Fiorentina Serie A form:

W

W

D

D

L

W

Fiorentina form (all competitions):

W

D

L

L

D

W

Team News

Domen Crnigoj is expected to remain out for Salernitana with the calf injury he sustained in mid-March.

Diego Valencia and Federico Fazio are also sidelined, with their returns expected to come shortly before the end of the season.

Dia will be the main man again in attack, and his goal at the weekend was his 12th in Serie A this season, as many as Rafael Leao and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have managed.

Giacomo Bonaventura will be absent for Fiorentina, along with goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, whose season is over.

Rolando Mandragora, Arthur Cabral and Lucas Martinez Quarta were all rested for the win over Sampdoria, as Italiano is set to keep his players fresh for the Basel tie in Europe next week.

Sofyan Amrabat, Nicolas Gonzalez, Luka Jovic and Cristiano Biraghi are among the other regular starters who could be given a rest either here or against Napoli at the weekend.

Third-choice keeper Michele Cerofolini was given his Serie A debut at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday, but Pietro Terracciano should come back in here.

Salernitana possible starting lineup:

Ochoa; Daniliuc, Gyomber, Pirola; Mazzocchi, Coulibaly, Vilhena, Bradaric; Candreva, Dia, Kastanos

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

Terracciano; Dodo; Ranieri, Martinez Quarta, Terzic; Mandragora, Castrovilli, Saponara; Ikone, Arthur Cabral, Sottil

We say: Salernitana 2-2 Fiorentina

Salernitana are the draw specialists, with seven in their last nine games, and they should be able to extend that against a side with little left to play for in Serie A.

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