11 February 2023
The three points earned on Tuesday night at Salernitana were important to push the Bianconeri up the Serie A table. One of the teams Juventus overtook in the standings was Fiorentina, the side next up at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday 12 February.
The Viola sit in 13th place with two points fewer than Massimiliano Allegri's side.
THE SEASON SO FAR
In 2023, Fiorentina have won only one of their six Serie A games, losing three of them, including last week's Derby dell'Appennino at home against Bologna. Since the beginning of this calendar year, only Cremonese, Sampdoria and Salernitana have collected fewer than the five points won by Viola.
In Coppa Italia it has been a different story, where the Viola have reached the semi-finals after ending the challenge of both Sampdoria and Torino. The Tuscans face Cremonese over two legs for a place in the Rome showpiece final against the winners from Juve-Inter.
Back to Serie A. Fiorentina have earned 11 points fewer after 21 games than last season after the same number of games. Only Verona, who occupy one of the three relegation places, have a greater negative difference, with -13 points.
The one success since the campaign resumed arrived against Sassuolo on Matchday 17 at the Aremio Franchi. Outside of Florence, they have not won since 6 November against Sampdoria, most recently losing to Roma and drawing against Lazio.
KEEP AN EYE ON...
The point that rewarded Fiorentina at the Olimpico against the Biancocelesti came from an equalising goal from Nico González. On the Argentine's return from the injury that saw him miss out on the Qatar World Cup he has been the Viola's most enterprising player.
Other than scoring the 96th-minute winner from the penaly spot against Sassuolo less than half an hour into his comeback, he also set up the momentary equaliser against Bologna last weekend.
After scoring in his first match against Juventus in the closing fixture last season, González - who sat out the opening fixture between the two sides this season - could become just the third Fiorentina player to score in both of his first two games against the Bianconeri in Serie A since three points for a win was introduced in season 1994/95, after Giampaolo Pazzini in 2005 and Josip Ilicic in 2015.
Supplying the service for the forwards has been Cristiano Biraghi, the player that has created most chances for his teammates this season in Serie A with 57. Worth noting, only Newcastle United's Kieran Trippier, with 62, has done better among defenders in Europe's top five leagues.
Further evidence of the Viola captain's attacking prowess is that he boasts the same number of successful crosses as Filip Kostic in Serie A this season, both have delivered 22 times, equal with Tommaso Augello.
What's more, since last season, no one has scored more goals from direct free kicks than Biraghi in Serie A. However, his three goals have been matched by Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bianconero Dušan Vlahović.
