Fiorentina confirmed a pulse for the primary time this 12 months within the win at Speedy Wien on Thursday, however the Derby dell’Appennino is all the time a special beast fully. Including to the drama is the truth that Bologna supervisor Vincenzo Italiano has been hospitalized for pneumonia and can miss this one; whether or not that results in a flatter Oscar Mayer facet with out his fiery want to beat his former employers or conjures up the gamers to higher heights stays to be seen.
Regardless, that is all the time an intense and unpredictable fixture. The house staff gained each occasions final 12 months, with Moise Kean dunking throughout Emil Holm in Florence, including a bit additional spice. The match will likely be performed on Sunday, 26 October 2025, at 15:00 GMT/11:00 AM EST on the Stadio Artemio Franchi in stunning Firenze. The forecast requires a grey afternoon. Regulate the wind, which might be very gusty, and control the gang. It most likely gained’t be a cauldron because the Franchi’s underneath capability—and can stay so indefinitely—however it ought to be fairly an environment.
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Three issues to observe for1. Is there really a midfield right here?
It wasn’t simply the consequence in opposition to SK Speedy on Thursday. It was the flashes of real competence, significantly from a midfield that’s slumbered by way of the season up to now. No person’s going to confuse Nicolò Fagioli, Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, and Cher Ndour for Xavi/Iniesta/Busquets any time quickly however they appeared like skilled gamers with a plan slightly than 3 stray cats assembly one another for the primary time.
The query is whether or not that newfound cohesion can survive Bologna’s intense urgent. Any Italiano staff goes to shut down like demons and that depth is perhaps sufficient to crush the fragile little stalk that Fiorentina’s pushed up. The Rossoblu are going to go man-for-man, so whoever’s within the engine room should work arduous to search out area and keep a optimistic and progressive mentality for 90 minutes.
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2. Moise Kean waking up
The Moose lastly received rolling in opposition to AC Milan final week, scoring a incredible effort and putting the woodwork not lengthy after. It was his first in Serie A this 12 months and it’s arduous to not take {that a} bit personally: he’s received simply the one purpose in 7 appearances regardless of main the league in xG however has struck 4 occasions in 3 appearances for Italy. It’s clearly not a matter of him falling off a cliff as a result of he’s nonetheless a monster at worldwide stage, leaving all of us (presumably together with Stefano Pioli) totally baffled.
This units up completely for Kean to attain once more. Bologna will press excessive and go away its defenders remoted in opposition to him, which is a state of affairs we’ve seen him capitalize on again and again. Jhon Lucumí‘s well-suited to defend him, boasting good tempo and power, however Torbjørn Heggem isn’t as fast and will wrestle in area. The Viola assault all the time revolves round Moise, after all, however all of the components are there for him to essentially do one thing this time round.
3. A superbly bifurcated season
You will have heard that Fiorentina hasn’t gained a sport in Serie A but however sits prime of the Convention League standings. This one is for the sickos, however are you able to think about the sheer hilarity of a staff not profitable for a complete home season however steamrolling everybody en path to a European trophy? So far as surprising and seemingly unattainable achievements, it’d outdo Leicester Metropolis profitable the Premier League for sheer unlikelihood. I don’t need that, after all, however really sure I do. You would put my lifeless ass in a coffin and nonetheless hear me guffawing.
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Doable lineups
Fiorentina (3-5-1-1): de Gea; Ranieri, Marí, Pongračić; Gosens, Fagioli, Nicolussi Caviglia, Mandragora, Dodô; Guðmundsson; Kean ||| Bologna (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Miranda, Heggen, Lucumí, Holm; Ferguson, Freuler; Cambiaghi, Fabbian, Orsolini; Castro
Ted’s Memorial Blind Guess Division
The bookies have this one nearly even, which is shocking. Bologna’s in fifth place and has an id. Fiorentina’s in 18th and doesn’t. Each had Thursday away video games in Europe—Vienna for the hosts, Bucharest for the guests—so there’s no relaxation benefit. No, the oddsmakers have this one even as a result of they really feel prefer it.
And you recognize what? They’re proper. This fixture is, like an derby, powerful to foretell, particularly with Federico La Penna refereeing ( and ). As a result of kind and expertise so typically exit the window in a derby like this, I’ll name it a 1-0 win for the great guys behind a Kean purpose. I’d additionally take the over on playing cards if I have been a degenerate gambler.
Forza Viola!