The Viola return to the friendly confines of the Franchi in search of their first win of the season. Fiorentina hosts Lazio on Sunday, 22 September 2024. The match will be played at 10:30 AM GMT/6:30 AM EST at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in beautiful Firenze. Despite a precipitation warning for Tuscany, it doesn’t look like the rain’s going to impact the game directly, although it’ll be pretty warm and humid, which could slow things down.
Key Matchup: Fiorentina's Defense vs. Lazio's Attack
Lazio has been dangerous going forward, scoring 8 goals (t-3rd in Serie A) so far and not missing Ciro Immobile all that much. The Viola can’t afford to hand their visitors any freebies. If they do, it’ll not only indicate that the back line remains a millstone, dragging this team’s ceiling well below the European places; it’ll also indicate that Raffaele Palladino’s still unable to fix a problem that’s vexed his side through the opening month of the season.
One of the main issues for Fiorentina has been their inability to keep a clean sheet. All of Fiorentina’s central defenders have delighted in individual mistakes this year. Whether it’s missed headers, blown marking assignments, mistimed tackles, or pointless concession of possession, there hasn’t been an appearance by a decent defender in Florence yet. Lucas Martínez Quarta has scored goals, at least, but forgotten how to defend just like the rest of his cohort at the back.
The Return of Albert Guðmundsson
Guðmundsson is clearly the main draw for Fiorentina fans, although he’ll probably start from the bench. Still, we should finally get a look at the guy who could be the club’s record signing by next summer. If he fits like a glove next to Moise Kean, as we’re all expecting, it’ll be a fun preview of the rest of the year.
Guðmundsson isn’t the only potential debutante in this match. None other than Gaetano Castrovilli could make his first start for his new club. We’ve covered the end of his time in Florence but it’s still going to feel very weird to see Tanino wearing a non-purple shirt. Lazio fans will probably feel similarly about Cataldi, who graduated from their academy and has spent his entire career (minus some early loan moves) with the Aquile.
Tactical Flexibility and the 3-5-2 Formation
Despite the result, Fiorentina’s first half at Atalanta last week was the best the Viola have looked all year, and Palladino deserves credit for shifting formations from a 3-4-2-1 to a 3-5-2. The extra midfielder made all the difference, preventing la Dea from overrunning the middle and offering more control in possession. That could be a tough sell this week, though, as Albert Guðmundsson is healthy, back from his sexual assault trial, and maybe (maybe) ready to start.
The question is whether that’s the new template or if it was just a one-time gambit against a specific opponent. A midfield trio makes a lot of sense, given that the midfielders—Danilo Cataldi, Edoardo Bove, Amir Richardson, Yacine Adli—offer more raw quality than the attackers—Andrea Colpani, Riccardo Sottil, Jonathan Ikoné, Christian Kouamé—especially if Guðmundsson isn’t available. Palladino has demonstrated tactical flexibility in the past, so the smart money’s on the 3-5-2 being here to stay.
Predicting the Outcome
Fiorentina’s struggled with Lazio over the past 3 years, posting a W1 D1 L4 record with a -8 goal difference, and I’d make the Viola underdogs here, too, despite being at home. This defense is deeply troubling and Marco Baroni’s got Lazio’s attack looking solid. Even with Taty Castellanos injured, Boulaye Dia is a dangerous option up front and scored last week. Even though the bookies have the hosts as favorites, I have trouble leaning that way.
On the other hand, Fiorentina looked frisky for the first 45 against Atalanta and could finally be finding something with this 3-5-2. Because TMBGT forbids pessimism, I’ll call it a 2-1 to give the Viola their first win of the Palladino era, with a Kean header and a long-range Bove blast for the good guys and a pretty simple Dia finish after another brain fart at the back.
Forza Viola!
Despite the challenges, Fiorentina fans remain optimistic. Their hope lies in the potential for a new era under Palladino and the emergence of exciting young talent like Guðmundsson. This match against Lazio presents a chance for the Viola to turn things around and secure their first win of the season. But with Lazio's potent attack and Fiorentina's defensive struggles, it will be a tough battle. Ultimately, only time will tell if Fiorentina can overcome their challenges and find their way back to winning ways.
