Feast of goals and football in Florence
Stadio Artemio Franchi will see genuine top four contenders Fiorentina take on defending champions and current leaders Inter on Tuesday night in Serie A. I Viola held off Genoa's challenge to return to Florence at the weekend with all three points, and find themselves up in fifth at the time of writing. Meanwhile, their vaunted opponents in midweek blew away Bologna 6-1 in Milan, sharing out the goals across the forward line and midfield. Although I Nerazzurri lost Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea in the summer, they have lost none of their potency in front of goal, which should be more than apparent in this encounter. Read our preview here:
No Quarta given
Vincenzo Italiano's charges have rallied well after opening day defeat on the road at Roma, winning their last three by the same 2-1 scoreline. Not safe from the FIFA/CONMEBOL fallout from the recent international break, one of the better performers for both club and country of late has been 25 year old centre back Lucas Martínez Quarta, who is continuing to thrive since swapping River Plate for Italy just under a year ago. Naturally, the level of opposition will be at its domestic zenith in 2021/2022, and as well as being a capable tackler, he can bring the ball out of the four man defence with aplomb, which could help to break the incessant press Inter are likely to impose on the hosts. Elsewhere, Dušan Vlahović will be an aerial menace from both open play and set pieces, having already grabbed three goals in Serie A - his 'partnership' with playmaker Giacomo Bonaventura will be crucial to giving Fiorentina the best chance possible of both getting a result from the game and keeping the opposition from mounting waves of relentless attacks.
Lauding the Laut
Lukaku's former partner in crime Lautaro Martínez has continued to thrive despite the Belgian hitman's departure, leading the line in a 3-5-2 with the option of Bosnian captain Edin Džeko off the bench when a different kind of threat is required. Denzell Dumfries continues to dominate down the right flank, clearly relishing the responsibility thrust upon him in the wing-back role. Bologna had no answer for Simone Inzaghi's tactics, instructing his men to bomb forward in support of the front two whenever the context of the match allowed.
Edin for the top
The first midweek fixture of the Serie A calendar should allow for some rotation by both sides, with the visitors enjoying the greater strength in depth from the substitutes in the dugout. Nicolò Barella will conduct the orchestra in the middle of the park, but Inter might have one or two hairy moments in their own defensive third. Parimatch have odds of 2.60 for over 3.5 goals in what's sure to be a pulsating tie.
