Fiorentina and Bologna go all-out for the attack in the Derby dell’Appennino at the Stadio Dall’Ara today.
It kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), follow the build-up and action on the LIVEBLOG.
This match is nicknamed the Derby of the Apennines due to the mountain range that separates the two cities.
Fiorentina and Bologna go all-out for the attack in the Derby dell’Appennino at the Stadio Dall’Ara today.
It kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), follow the build-up and action on the LIVEBLOG.
This match is nicknamed the Derby of the Apennines due to the mountain range that separates the two cities.
Bologna had started the campaign well, but are now five without a win and showed an unfortunate tendency to fumble leads late on against Inter, Lazio, Sassuolo and Chievo.
There’s also an injury crisis breaking out for Roberto Donadoni, who is without Mattia Destro, Domenico Maietta, Marios Oikonomou and Vasilis Torosidis, so the defence has to be revamped.
Sergio Floccari leads the attack with support from on-form Ladislav Krejci and set-piece specialist Simone Verdi.
Fiorentina had seemingly found their scoring boots with a 5-3 victory away to Cagliari, but on Wednesday only scraped a late equaliser with bottom of the table Crotone at the Stadio Franchi.
Paulo Sousa has a full squad to choose from and picks a trident attack with Cristian Tello and Federico Bernardeschi feeding Nikola Kalinic, plus creative figures Josip Ilicic and Borja Valero in midfield.
Matias Vecino was named in the starting XI, but sustained an injury during the warm-up, so is replaced by Milan Badelj.
The Viola are unbeaten against Bologna in their last four meetings, securing three victories and a stalemate.
Last season this fixture ended 1-1 at the Dall’Ara.
Bologna: Da Costa; M’Baye, Gastaldello, Helander, Masina; Dzemaili, Pulgar, Taider; Verdi, Floccari, Krejci
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu; Rodriguez, Astori, Salcedo; Milic, Borja Valero, Badelj, Ilicic; Tello, Kalinic, Bernardeschi