Fiorentina vs Atalanta
2016/17 Italian Serie A.
Date: Sunday, 16 October 2016
Kick-Off: 11:30 UK,
Venue: Stadio Artemio Franchi (Florence).
Fiorentina is currently at the 14th spot of the Italian top flight table as the team is struggling to find wins this season. Viola had been winless in four of their first six matches.
They also had a match with Genoa canceled last month due to extreme weather conditions, which is why the two clubs are playing only their seventh games in round 8.
Fiorentina is coming off a disappointing 1-2 nipping in the hands of middling club Torino at the Olimpico di Torino on Oct. 2 just before the international break, as per SB Nation.
The hosts scored a 15th-minute goal, with a left-footed shot from forward Iago Falque, to take the early lead in the contest.
Torino then doubled their lead right at the hour-mark of the match as midfielder Marco Benassi received a cross from Falque and directed it past the outstretched arms of Viola keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu.
Head coach Paulo Sousa's side managed to score a consolation goal with a header from substitute striker Khouma Babacar with six minutes left before full time.
Meanwhile, Atalanta pulled off one of the most stunning upsets so far in the season by turning back second-running squad Napoli, 1-0, at their home field of Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia also on Oct. 2, Four Four Two reported.
Italian striker Andrea Petagna scored the winning goal early in the ninth minute with a left-footer from the left side of the six-yard box.
Atalanta remained at the 12th place in the overall standings after the win, which is their third of the season. The team is now on a two-game winning run as they hope to pull off another upset over Fiorentina, who is favored to win a close game over La Dea.
Fiorentina vs Atalanta: Head-to-head statistics
- Fiorentina have scored at least two goals in their last 10 home games against Atalanta.
- The Viola have also won their past nine meetings with La Dea
- Fiorentina are undefeated in all but one of their last 12 home games.
- They have kept a clean sheet in their last four matches at the Stadio Artemio Franchi
- Atalanta’s last win in this fixture was on April 29, 2012.
Fiorentina vs Atalanta: Prediction
Gian Piero Gasperini’s troops will be by far the more confident coming into this game, especially after earning a hard-fought win over Scudetto contenders Napoli. Fiorentina are a side in flummox right now, and Paulo Sousa, despite the team’s solid showings in Europe, is nonetheless under pressure to make sure that the team start winning in Serie A, too. As noted before, the Viola have had a tough domestic fixture list, but their lack of offensive output – with just six goals – is also a major source of concern.
Although Atalanta haven’t won here in over four years, La Dea will definitely trouble the Viola. Discipline for the visitors, though, is a major issue, and Gasperini will need everyone to keep cool heads to make sure they finish with all 11 men on the pitch. Still, Fiorentina’s impressive record in this fixture should not be discounted, and the hosts are expected to rebound from a bad patch by picking up their third win of the season. Their home clean sheet record, however, just may come under threat.
Fiorentina vs Atalanta: Betting tips
Fiorentina to WIN at 3/4 (1.75)
Both teams to score at 19/20 (1.95)
Over 2.5 goals at evens (2.00).
