Fiorentina take on the visitors Atalanta in the round 38 match of Italian Serie A. The match will be played on Friday, May 22nd at Stadio Artemio Franchi (Florence).
Fiorentina failed to return to the ranks of Italy’s true top clubs, but they had still produced respectable results in recent years. Last season, under Palladino, they even managed to push Lazio out of 6th place. Even so, the club chose to make a change in the summer and placed their trust in Pioli. That decision proved disastrous, as Fiorentina failed to win a single Serie A match under him in Florence. There were some decent results in the Conference League, but even there, the finalists of the previous two editions were eliminated in the quarter-finals. That already happened under the new manager, Vanoli, who at least reminded the team how to win in Serie A and helped them climb away from the relegation zone by spring. Their home form has remained inconsistent throughout the run-in, making it difficult to trust them fully even after occasional positive results. Momentum has swung wildly from week to week, which reflects a side still lacking stability despite the managerial reset. Then again, by the end of April they stopped winning once more. There was even a humiliating 0-4 defeat against Roma. The 2-0 win over Juventus in the previous round was more about tripping up their opponent than doing anything meaningful for themselves.
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Atalanta justified the skeptical predictions. The Bergamaschi went into this season without Gasperini, whose long spell at the club ended on a high after another 3rd-place finish. His replacement, Jurić, quickly dismantled much of that progress. Palladino ultimately managed better, but even then the overall picture remained mixed. In the Champions League, after overturning Borussia Dortmund following a 0-2 first-leg defeat in Germany, the Italians were then comprehensively outclassed by the even more formidable Bayern. Their season has repeatedly shown flashes of resilience, but just as often they have followed encouraging performances with flat displays. That inconsistency has been the defining trait of their campaign, especially when the pressure increased in decisive weeks. In the Coppa Italia, after reaching the semi-finals and drawing twice with Lazio, they lost the tie on penalties. In Serie A, despite initially improving their position, the team looked distinctly average during the crucial spring stretch. In the end, they were left fighting only for 7th place, though they did at least beat their notable neighbors Milan in May. On the other hand, they then followed that up with a 0-1 defeat to Bologna.
In the last six meetings, the clubs have shared the spoils evenly, with three wins apiece. This has been a fixture with very little room for dominance from either side, and that balance adds another layer of unpredictability heading into this clash. Overall, both sides have already resolved their main league objectives, which could make for a more open and relaxed contest. With little left to protect and both teams prone to defensive lapses but capable of finding the net, the preferred pick here is Both Teams To Score.
Prediction for the match: Both teams to score – yes.
