It occurred. Fiorentina gained a Serie A sport and it solely took 16 tries. With that success recent of their minds, the Viola will attempt to repeat that efficiency at Seventeenth-place Parma, which has proven indicators of life not too long ago below disgustingly younger supervisor Carlos Cuesta, who’s all of 30 years previous. The Viola gained’t haul themselves out of the drop zone with a win right here however would a minimum of peel themselves out of final place, so there’s loads of strain on them to get a outcome.
The match can be performed on Saturday, 27 December 2025, at 14:30 GMT/6:30 AM EST, on the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma. The forecast requires a crisp day with nary a cloud within the sky. Every thing’s arrange for a wonderful sport apart from, you recognize, Fiorentina being Fiorentina.
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Three issues to observe for1. The again 4
Final week’s win was Paolo Vanoli’s and it labored properly. Fiorentina regarded miles higher with a again 4 that includes Fabiano Parisi and Albert Guðmundsson on the wings. Certain, Udinese made it veeerrrrryyy simple by getting its goalkeeper despatched off early and sacrificing a midfielder as an alternative of a ahead, however there have been doubtlessly repeatable options in Vanoli’s new method.
This week, after all, he’ll have to vary it. The important thing absence is Luca Ranieri, who’s suspended. My guess is that, despite the fact that Robin Gosens is again within the squad for the primary time in 2 months, Mattia Viti will get the nod at leftback. That’s partly a health concern but in addition as a result of the leftback behind Guðmundsson has to sit down deep, which negates a lot of Gosens’ affect. Viti, however, is well-suited to the position and even took it over from Ranieri late on towards Udinese.
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The centerbacks and rightback (Pietro Comuzzo Marin Pongračić, and Dodô, respectively) are all locked in. The query is how they mesh with Viti and the way they react to Parma’s assault. Mateo Pellegrino is an underrated goal man (61 aerial duels gained, 2nd-best in Serie A) and can trigger issues when Parma goes straight to him, whereas Milan Djurić comes off the bench and is the perfect aerial risk within the league. Vanoli will attempt to get his guys to chop off the availability as a lot as doable however the centerbacks must step up too.
2. How sleepy Guðmundsson is
The ahead who scored a magnificence towards Udinese and was on the coronary heart of quite a few strikes was one we’ve seen possibly half a dozen occasions in Florence in his 12 months and a half with the crew. As often occurs on these uncommon events when he’s totally awake and engaged, the assault regarded harmful. If he can string collectively consecutive sturdy outings—which I can’t recall him doing beforehand—it’ll received a good distance in direction of taking the strain off Moise Kean, balancing the Viola assault, and including a little bit of unpredictability to the method play.
Guðmundsson will most likely function in a nominal left midfield position once more however could have a variety of freedom to roam seeking area. His direct opponent can be 19-year-old Sasha Britschgi, who’s had some good moments however shouldn’t present too formidable an impediment. Cuesta will likely get his younger defender some assist however Guðmundsson wants to claim himself right here, each to assist his crew and to enhance his standing within the switch window; I can’t assist however suppose all his feedback about Juventus and Inter Milan eying him up a pair years in the past have been made to drum up curiosity.
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3. Parma’s form
Fiorentina’s not the one crew fighting its form. Cuesta performed 3-5-2 to begin the season however has gone to a again 4 over the previous couple video games as properly, testing out each a 4-3-3 and a lopsided 4-4-2. My guess is that we’ll see one thing extra like the previous, which will get Adrian Bernabé on the ball extra typically whereas guaranteeing that Parma doesn’t get overrun within the center, particularly with Cher Ndour and/or Simon Sohm breaking ahead and Guðmundsson drifting in.
Gaetano Oristanio and Adrian Benedyzcak, the seemingly wingers, are each fast and difficult sufficient with out being notably attention-grabbing. The person who makes Parma tick is Adrian Bernabé () and one in every of Cuesta’s main goals can be getting the Spaniard on the ball in the suitable areas. He’ll drift round as the first inventive hub and locking him down will make issues lots simpler for the Viola. If he’s shackled, Parma gained’t be capable of progress by way of the center and can grow to be very one-dimensional.
Doable lineups
Parma (4-3-3): Suzuki; Valeri, Valenti, Delprato, Britschgi; Keita, Estevez, Bernabé; Oristanio, Pellegrino, Benedyczak ||| Fiorenitna (4-3-3): de Gea; Viti, Pongračić, Comuzzo, Dodô; Ndour, Fagioli, Sohm; Guðmundsson, Kean, Parisi
Ted’s Memorial Blind Guess Division
I don’t know the way or why however the bookies have Fiorentina as the favourite right here. I’m not a gambler and usually disapprove of your complete trade, not least as a result of it’s designed to take cash from bettors, however I’ve a variety of bother seeing how this line makes any sense. Fiorentina, regardless of final week’s large win, stays a Superfund website. Parma hasn’t impressed however has crushed up on groups within the drop zone. I wouldn’t guess my lease on the hosts however I’d really feel higher about that than some other final result.
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Even so, I’ll choose the guests to squeak out a 1-2 win as a result of I’m an fool and TMBGD is a spot for unbridled optimism. Parma has Serie A’s worst assault (simply 10 targets scored) however you recognize, I do know, and the demons down below the ocean know that it’ll get a scrappy objective off a set piece, most likely from a centerback. Lautaro Valenti’s larger than Enrico Delprato so I’ll say it’s him. However, I’ll take Kean and Sohm (again to hang-out his previous crew) to get the guests over the road in a sport that’s nigh unwatchable at occasions as each groups kick up mud moderately than taking part in.
Forza Viola!