Fresh from wins in Europe, two teams separated by three points in Serie A will clash at Stadio Franchi on Sunday evening, when Fiorentina meet Roma.
The Viola have run into top form since the end of September, while their counterparts from Italy's capital city are still seeking consistency.
Match preview
© Imago
Despite conceding first on Thursday evening, Fiorentina proceeded to maintain their flawless start in this season's Conference League, as the two-time beaten finalists saw off Swiss strugglers St Gallen.
Just days after crushing 10-man Lecce 6-0 in Serie A, the Viola posted back-to-back wins in UEFA's third-tier club tournament, with Jonathan Ikone netting a second-half double en route to a 4-2 win in Switzerland.
After starting their first league campaign under head coach Raffaele Palladino with three draws and one defeat - in addition to scraping through their Conference League qualifier - they have certainly started turning things around of late.
Summer signings Danilo Cataldi and Andrea Colpani both bagged a brace last weekend, and across all competitions Fiorentina have now scored 14 times in their last four outings.
The Tuscan club have also taken 10 points from the last 12 available in Serie A, where they could now record three straight wins for the first time since last year.
However, Fiorentina head into Sunday's game having won only two of their last 12 league matches against Roma, with both contests last term ending in a draw.
© Imago
On the other hand, history is not exactly on Roma's side either, as they have picked up just one point from their last three visits to Florence, last keeping a clean sheet at Stadio Franchi back in 2014.
Like their hosts, the Giallorossi were winners in Europe this week, with Artem Dovbyk's first-half penalty against fellow Ukrainians Dynamo Kyiv securing maximum points for the first time in three attempts.
Roma may still trail behind old foes and Europa League leaders Lazio in the standings, but victory will have come as sweet relief for new boss Ivan Juric.
After losing to Elfsborg, drawing with Monza, then suffering a 1-0 home defeat against Italian champions Inter Milan last weekend, the man who succeeded club hero Daniele De Rossi had been under fire from fans and the media.
Now, his focus must turn to topping up a modest tally of 10 points in Serie A, which is Roma's lowest haul at this stage of a season since 2010.
As the ex-Genoa and Torino coach needs just one more win to join an exclusive club boasting more than 300 points in Italy's top flight, he would dearly love to pass that landmark on Sunday.
Team News
© Imago
Fiorentina have rotated their squad substantially between European fixtures and Serie A, so several changes should be expected, including returns for Moise Kean, Dodo and David de Gea.
Robin Gosens - who scored as a substitute in midweek - could also come back into the starting XI, replacing club captain Cristiano Biraghi. Former Atalanta BC star Gosens has registered a goal or an assist in his last three starts against Roma, and he now needs one more to reach 50 goal involvements in Serie A.
Meanwhile, the hosts will again be without Iceland striker Albert Gudmundsson (hamstring), Rolando Mandragora (knee) and Marin Pongracic (thigh) due to injury.
Roma's absence list is similarly short, as Alexis Saelemaekers (ankle) is the only player definitely sidelined, while Stephan El Shaarawy (calf) is close to recovering and Gianluca Mancini could return following an illness.
After Ivan Juric also made changes to his team in midweek, Argentinian duo Paulo Dybala and Matias Soule will both push for places in an attack led by top scorer Artem Dovbyk.
Elsewhere, Italy internationals Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini should step back into the Giallorossi's midfield.
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Dodo, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Gosens; Adli, Cataldi, Bove; Colpani, Kouame; Kean
Roma possible starting lineup:
Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Angelino; Celik, Cristante, Kone, Zalewski; Pellegrini, Dybala; Dovbyk
We say: Fiorentina 1-1 Roma
Given Fiorentina's recent revival, they should start favourites, but Roma have developed a habit of scoring late on and could come away with one point.
The Giallorossi have netted 63% of their goals after the hour mark this season, so they can end the hosts' record as the only team yet to concede during the last 30 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
