Preview: Fiorentina vs. Lazio – Prediction, team news, lineups

With the aim of winning at national level for the first time this season, Florence will welcome Lazio to the Stadio Franchi for the kick-off of Serie A on Sunday afternoon.

The Viola have only picked up three points so far, while their colleagues from the capital are doing much better after last week's victory against Hellas Verona.

Game Preview

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After leaving Fiorentina empty-handed in a 3-2 loss to Atalanta BC in Bergamo last weekend, with all five goals coming in a hectic first half, they have failed to win any of their opening four Serie A matches for the first time since 2019.

Lucas Martinez Fourth and then Moise Kean brought the Tuscan team twice ahead against La Dea, but they were thrown back twice before Ademola Lookman scored the goal that turned out to be the winning goal in injury time of the first half.

Only three times in their long history in the top flight have Fiorentina failed to win one of their first five games – and the last time was almost five decades ago – but that fate awaits Raffaele Palladino's men if they can't take the lead this weekend.

The Viola are 14th in the Serie A table and have recorded their only success so far this season on penalties in last month's Conference League play-offs, after two draws against Puskas Akademia were forced to take them to penalties.

Now they will be hoping to build on their improved record against Lazio, whom they beat 2-1 at the Franchi in February: Fiorentina have taken four points from their last three meetings with Sunday's visitors – the same number as from the previous ten.

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Although they suffered defeat on their last visit to Tuscany, Lazio have lost only two of their last 14 games against Fiorentina in Serie A, winning no fewer than nine.

They will approach this week’s duel with their second win of the season behind them, after goals from Boulaye Dia And Taty Castellanos secured a 2-1 home win against Verona on Monday evening.

New Biancocelesti boss Marco Baroni celebrated a victory against his old club and now returns to his hometown of Florence to increase Lazio's total points from seven to three more.

Ahead of his side's first European match (their first Europa League opponents are Dynamo Kyiv next week), Baroni will be keen to maintain his current club's impressive form before and after the summer break.

Lazio have lost just one of their last 11 Serie A matches, averaging two points per game. Only Atalanta have performed better in that time.

Fiorentina Serie A Form:

Fiorentina form (all competitions):

Lazio Serie A Form:

Team News

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The Icelandic striker will be included in Fiorentina's matchday squad for the first time since joining from Genoa in the summer Albert Gudmundsson could be used as a substitute player after recovering from a calf injury.

David de Gea last week his first appearance in Serie A and could continue Pietro Terracciano on the bench, behind a back three led by Lucas Martinez Quarta.

Following his strike in Bergamo, Martinez Quarta has scored six league goals since the start of the 2023/24 season – no defender has scored more goals in the entire Italian top flight – and he is also the only centre-back to have scored in each of the last five seasons.

Meanwhile, Lazio's only concern is Argentine striker Taty Castellanos, who left Monday's game limping due to a muscle injury.

The former Girona striker has since returned to training but is unlikely to play, leaving Boulaye Dia to most likely lead the attack. Between them, the pair have scored five of the Biancocelesti's eight goals this season.

Whoever starts as a centre forward is supported by the captain Mattia Zaccagni and each of Gustav Isaksen, Tijjani Noslin or Loum Tchaouna.

Possible starting eleven for Fiorentina:
De Gea; Martinez Quarta, Pongracic, Biraghi; Dodo, Cataldi, Mandragora, Gosens; Sottil, Colpani; Kean

Possible starting eleven for Lazio:
Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Dele-Bashiru, Rovella, Guendouzi; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni

We think: Fiorentina 2-2 Lazio

Fiorentina will have to wait for their first win as Lazio have started the season well and are quite capable of breaking through the hosts' defence.

The spoils could be divided at the Stadio Franchi, which would please the guests far more than the Viola.

Click here to see a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match.

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