Fiorentina, on the other hand, just cannot get their act together when it comes to consistency, at least on the domestic side of things. Cesare Prandelli's team did fantastically well to qualify from their Champions League group, considering the competition they were up against.
But you feel it has had a direct effect on their League form and suddenly that fourth spot is looking like a really tough ask. One of the reasons could be down to the spate of injuries the club has had but Adrian Mutu returns for this game and is likely to be on the bench – a real boost for the Florentine side.
Nonetheless, the spine of the team still suffers with absentees – Alessandro Gamberini, Cristiano Zanetti and Marco Marchionni are all out.
Leonardo has less of a selection headache with most of his big-hitters fit and well, but is unable to call on Massimo Oddo, Oguchi Onyewu, Thiago Silva and Daniele Bonera – effectively an entire backline.
Last season's encounter was the final fixture of the season when it really was all to play for with regards to automatic Champions League qualification. Fiorentina had been on a wonderful run and had just qualified for Europe's premier competition with a last-gasp draw at Lecce, but with a win over the Rossoneri and other results going their way, a second-placed finish was not out of the question.
In the end, the Viola fans had to settle for fourth spot thanks to goals from Brazilian duo Kaka and Alexandre Pato in a game which signified the former's last game in a red-and-black shirt as well as the great Paolo Maldini's swansong.
Keep an eye on: Ronaldinho (Milan) – The mercurial Brazilian has put in displays this season that while not quite hitting the lofty heights of his Ballon d'Or days, are certainly a marked improvement on last season. With Fiorentina's backline expected to be weakened through injury, the toothy-playmaker may well have an influential role to play in breaking the home side down.
Last five in Serie A: Fiorentina (W W L W L) Milan (W W W W L)
Last season: Fiorentina 0-2 Milan |
Fiorentina (probable): Frey; De Silvestri, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Donadel, Montolivo; Jorgensen, Santana, Vargas; Gilardino
Milan (probable): Dida; Zambrotta, Nesta, Kaladze, Antonini; Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Pato, Borriello, Ronaldinho
Prediction from Kappara.ru : Both teams to score goals 1.75 Обе команды забьют 1.75
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