Can Fiorentina trouble Como at the Franchi?

The last time these sides met, Fiorentina came out on top, winning 2-1 at Como in February’s Serie A fixture. Now the roles have reversed: Fiorentina return to the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday as the side fighting to escape the bottom of the table, while Como arrive as the team with momentum and a rising league position.

A favourite with a point to prove

Como sit eighth in the 20-team table with 11 points from six games and a goal difference of +3. Fiorentina are 18th on four points, with a goal difference of -7. On paper, the gap is wide. For Fiorentina, though, a home match against a side in the upper half is the kind of game that can change the mood of a season, and they will need a result to pull themselves back into the conversation.

Como’s steadier hand

Como’s last five league results read draw, defeat, win, win, win, and they have scored eight goals across that run while conceding five. Their away record has been solid, with two wins from four trips, and they have kept one clean sheet in six games.

Fiorentina have struggled to find consistency. Their recent results include one win, one draw and three defeats, and they have conceded 10 goals in their last five matches. At home they are yet to win, with two defeats and a draw from three games. Their defence has been the main concern, with 14 goals conceded this season.

Head-to-head: Como’s edge, Fiorentina’s answer

Como have the better record across the last five meetings, with three wins to Fiorentina’s two. The most recent contest, however, belonged to Fiorentina, and it followed a January Coppa Italia meeting in which Como won 3-1 in Florence. Fiorentina will take confidence from knowing they have beaten Como in this fixture recently, even if the league table tells a different story.

Injury worries on both sides

Fiorentina will be without F. Parisi (knee injury) and R. Sottil (back injury). A. Atta (abdominal strain) and L. Ranieri (leg injury) are both doubtful, leaving head coach options limited in defence and attack.

Como are missing A. Diao (thigh injury) and M. Kean (leg injury), so both sides will have to adapt their plans around key absences.

Our prediction

Fiorentina have shown they can beat Como, and their home crowd could push them to be sharper than their recent results suggest. Still, Como’s better away form and steadier defence should be enough to decide a tight contest. We expect Fiorentina to make it difficult, but Como to edge it.

Fiorentina 1-2 Como