Fiorentina will look to claim their first win of the campaign as they welcome big-spending Como to the Franchi on Sunday night.
Stefano Pioli began his second stint as Fiorentina manager with back-to-back draws away at Cagliari and Torino.
They then welcomed Napoli to the Franchi in their first home game of the season last week, but were blown away by the champions, as they lost 1-3 to Antonio Conte’s men on an evening where our man Vladislav landed a couple of winners.
Como were on course to make it consecutive home wins to begin the campaign, as they led 1-0 against Genoa, but the 10-man failed to hold on as Patrick Vieira’s visitors equalised in stoppage time.
The game before, Cesc Fabregas’s men were beaten in their opening away match of the campaign, as a Ricardo Orsolini strike sealed a 1-0 victory for Bologna.
How the bookies view it: Viola slight favourites
Playing at home is perhaps the reason why Fiorentina are slight favourites for this match, with BoyleSports pricing a home success at 6/4.
Como are 8/5 with the same firm to chalk up their first away success this term, whilst the draw is 11/5.
Head to head: Fixture favours the away side
The away side won this fixture last season, with Fiorentina winning 0-2 at the picturesque Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia last November, whilst goals from Maxence Caqueret and Nico Paz sealed a 0-2 victory for Como at The Franchi back in February.
Players to watch: Paz to power on?
Nico Paz had a terrific first season for Como last term, as he fired in six goals and provided nine assists for Cesc Fabregas’s side, including scoring the second goal in their 0-2 win in Florence in February.
The talented young Argentinian has already had three goal involvements this campaign – including scoring a stunning long-range strike against Genoa last time out – and I like the 7/4 on offer at Bet365 for him to Score or Assist.
Predicted line-ups:
La Viola will be missing the injured attacking duo of Albert Gudmundsson and Christian Kouame due to injury.
Como will be without defender Jacobo Ramon following his late dismissal against Genoa last weekend, whilst Alberto Dossena, Ignace Van der Brempt and Assane Diao are out through injury.
Fiorentina: De Gea, Comuzzo, Pongranic, Ranieri, Dodo, Sohm, Mandragora, Fagioli, Gosens, Dzeko, Kean
Como: Butez, Vojvoda, Posch, Kempf, Valle, Da Cunha, Caqueret, Kuhn, Paz, Caraballo, Morata
Anything else catch the eye?
This is a tough one to predict, with Stefano Pioli still finding his feet in his second stint as La Viola boss.
Both teams have gotten on the scoresheet in seven of Fiorentina’s previous nine Serie A contests – including in each of their last two – and backing goals could be the safest way to approach this one.
What’s more, Como have kept just three clean sheets away from home since promotion to Serie A last season, but have scored in 10 of their last 13, meaning I’m leaning towards the 4/5 on offer at Bet365 for Both Teams to Score.
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