Vincenzo Italiano explains how Fiorentina are ‘very different’ now to when they lost 4-0 to Inter and want to prove themselves this evening.
It kicks off at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at 19.45 GMT.
These sides were both in Riyadh for the Supercoppa Italiana Final Four, but with very different moods.
The Viola were swept aside 3-0 by Napoli in the semi-final, while Inter lifted the trophy for the third year in a row.
Cards carry on from that tournament, so Cristiano Biraghi, Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicoló Barella are all suspended.
Fiorentina lost 4-0 to Inter earlier this season and lost to them in the Coppa Italia Final last term.
“We had started that game well with the intention of causing Inter problems, then our fitness levels just crumbled in the second half,” Italiano told DAZN.
“That was a while ago, we have managed to improve and sort out some things since then. This is a very different match, there is a lot at stake for both teams.
“We are back on home turf and want to react to the Supercoppa disappointment.”
Jonathan Ikone missed a penalty during the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final with Napoli and the fans were furious as he was not a designated spot-kick specialist.
“I am seeing that other teams are developing a bit of a penalty phobia too, so we are not alone. It is an important opportunity and we should not miss, but these things happen. Ikone won the penalty and wanted to take it, I am convinced he will show what he can do.”
Nico Gonzalez is back on the bench this evening after six weeks out with a thigh strain and there had been some reports he would start.
“He is finally in good shape, we had considered starting him, but with such a serious injury, we have to be careful. Gonzalez can be an important addition in the second half and can help us out.”
Riccardo Sottil was named in the starting XI tonight, but failed a fitness test in the warm-up and was replaced by M’Bala Nzola.
The pressure is on at the Stadio Franchi, as Fiorentina need a win to recapture fourth place from Atalanta, while Inter can go top with a game in hand going into next week’s Scudetto showdown with Juventus.
Jack Bonaventura knows a thing or two about facing Inter – he has 8 G/A against them in #SerieA 👀 #FiorentinaInter | @ACFFiorentinaEN pic.twitter.com/cg7F0oBQCz
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) January 28, 2024