Aiming to extend their best spell of form this season, Fiorentina visit Serie A's bottom side Cremonese on Sunday, at Stadio Giovanni Zini.
The hosts have never tasted victory in 11 previous top-flight meetings with the Viola, who have won each of their last four matches following a midweek success in Europe.
Match preview
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Last time out in Serie A, Fiorentina posted perhaps their best result of an inconsistent season, as they turned over reigning champions Milan at Stadio Artemio Franchi thanks to a coolly-converted Nicolas Gonzalez penalty and Luka Jovic's late diving header.
Their 2-1 victory took a growing unbeaten streak to five matches, with 13 goals being notched up in the process - a far cry from the Tuscan team's previous struggles in the final third.
Vincenzo Italiano and co were not satisfied with that, though, as they hosted Super Lig side Sivasspor in the first leg of the clubs' Europa Conference League last-16 tie on Thursday, when Antonin Barak's 69th-minute strike earned a one-goal advantage ahead of next week's return in Turkey.
Setting up a potentially fruitful finish to an otherwise meandering season, not only are Fiorentina now within touching distance of a European quarter-final, but they will also take on Sunday's hosts in the Coppa Italia semi-finals next month.
Having won three league games in a row only once so far this season, they will now aim to repeat a feat last achieved back in November, as they seek a top-half placing in the Serie A standings - even accounting for their recent upturn, finishing in the top six is surely off the table.
The Viola have certainly demonstrated the attacking intent associated with Italiano's teams this term, and have attempted 403 shots in Serie A - fewer only than league leaders Napoli. However, they have a meagre 7% conversion rate - with Cremonese being one of just three teams faring worse - so will hope that Jovic and Arthur Cabral can keep their improved accuracy going on Sunday.
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Beaten 3-2 in August's reverse fixture after conceding a last-gasp goal by Rolando Mandragora, Cremonese have never won a single Serie A fixture against Fiorentina.
After recording a draw and then their first league success of the season to end February on a high, the Grigiorossi also lost their most recent outing 3-2 in stoppage time, on this occasion to Sassuolo.
Davide Ballardini had hauled his team off the bottom of the table, at least temporarily, and also guided them into the Coppa Italia semis by toppling Napoli and Roma, but after defeating the latter again in the league they were sent back to square one on Monday.
After a Cyriel Dessers-inspired fightback from two goals down, it seemed momentum was building behind an improbable survival attempt, but Nedim Bajrami struck for their hosts in Reggio-Emilia, consigning Cremo to a 15th defeat of the season.
They have now conceded the most goals during second-half injury time in Serie A (five), and having already equalled the longest winless run ever recorded in Italy's top flight, time is running out if the Lombardy side are to avoid an immediate return to Serie B.
Team News
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After naming a strong starting XI in the Conference League on Thursday, Vincenzo Italiano may make at least a couple of changes at Stadio Zini, with an almost full squad fit and available to the Fiorentina head coach.
First-choice goalkeeper Pietro Terraciano has been ruled out and Aleksa Terzic remains sidelined by an adductor problem, but Nikola Milenkovic should make his first start since returning from injury.
Italiano is set to continue his alternation between Luka Jovic and Arthur Cabral up front; while Jovic scored what proved to be the decisive strike against Milan last week - only Harry Kane (seven) and Breel Embolo (six) now have more headed goals throughout Europe's top five leagues - his Brazilian colleague should get the nod instead.
Another man angling to start after making a major impact from the bench, Cyriel Desssers, will vie with Felix-Afena Gyan to join David Okereke and Frank Tsadjout in Cremonese's front line on Sunday.
Alex Ferrari returns from suspension to complete the hosts' back three alongside Matteo Bianchetti and Johan Vasquez, as both Emanuel Aiwu and Vlad Chiriches are unavailable.
Cremonese possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Bianchetti, Vasquez, Ferrari; Sernicola, Benassi, Pickel, Valeri; Okereke, Tsadjout, Dessers
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Sirigu; Dodo, Milenkovic, Igor, Biraghi; Mandragora, Amrabat, Bonaventura; Gonzalez, Cabral, Sottil
We say: Cremonese 1-2 Fiorentina
Though they have won just three times and scored only 11 goals on the road in Serie A, Fiorentina can continue their uptick in form by beating a desperate Cremonese side. While the Grigiorossi boast some firepower and should find the net themselves, their Viola visitors are approaching top gear.
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Jonathan O'Shea
