Everything was looking rosy for Leonardo's Milan side until last weekend's debacle at home to Palermo. The Rossoneri had won five games on the spin and just qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, albeit not in the most convincing fashion.

But a home defeat to the likes of Palermo is just not good enough for Milan if they are serious about challenging Inter this season for the Scudetto. And it's imperative that the team get back to winning ways this weekend to prevent their city rivals going further ahead in the table.

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

Bologna reside in 16th spot and need a win this weekend to ease any concerns about the difficulties they may face in the second half of the campaign. Inconsistency has been their enemy this term.

With just one win in their first nine games, their recent outings have seen them fail to rack up points week on week – with only the draw at Lazio and home win over Udinese providing consecutive positive results.

Encouragingly though they have won half of their home games this term and have only failed to score in one of the eight games they have put on at the Renato Dall’Ara.

And fortunately for the Rossoblu their guests have lost five of their eight away days this season and with just three wins in 16 find themselves in an even deeper mire than their hosts.

The Bergamo club also had a wretched start to the campaign – waiting until Week 8 for their first win. The arrival of Antonio Conte saw a brief spike but they are now in a run of just one win in seven games.

The history of this fixture suggests there really could be any winner. In the nine encounters between the two, dating back to 1990, Bolo have recorded three wins, three losses and three draws. Last term it was the visitors who left with the three points, thanks to a Tiberio Guarente goal.

Bologna have a few selection issues for the fixture. Uruguayan defender Miguel Angel Britos serves a suspension while fellow offense-repeller Vagelis Moras and the midfield trio of Massimo Mutarelli, Stephen Appiah and Nicola Mingazzini are all out injured.

For Atalanta, the influential playmaker Cristiano Doni, Paraguayan midfielder Edgar Barreto and young striker Christian Tiboni all reside on the injured list.

Keep an eye on: Simone Tiribocchi (Atalanta) – If Atalanta are to secure an important away win they will require a goal from Tiribocchi. The club’s top scorer this term, he netted last week against leaders Inter, and after that one against strugglers like Bologna should be easy.

Last five in Serie A: Bologna (W L D W L) Atalanta (L W L L D)

Last season: Bologna 0-1 Atalanta