Will Fiorentina’s Fortunes Change as They Host Juve?

Fiorentina’ s Federico Chiesa (l) and Juventus Alex Sandro during the soccer match Acf Fiorentina vs Juventus at artemio Franchi stadium in Floence, Italy, 15 January 2017. EPA/MAURIZIO DEGL’ INNOCENTI

Juventus’ visit to the Stadio Artemio Franchi to face Fiorentina and Roma’s hosting of Internazionale are the highlights of round 14 in the 2018/19 Serie A live and exclusive to DStv and GOtv.

Juve have enjoyed an incredible start to the defence of their title, securing a total of 37 points from a possible 39 to hold an eight-point lead at the top of the log, and they will be favourites to pick up yet another victory when they head to Florence.

Fiorentina have gone six games without a win in the Italian top flight, with their latest result a goalless draw at Bologna. Stefano Pioli’s side are at least solid in defence and have shipped just 10 goals in 13 games this season, but they will have their work cut out to keep Juve’s forwards Mario Mandzukic and Cristiano Ronaldo quiet through a full 90 minutes.

Perhaps the most explosive game of the round will take place on Sunday night at Stadio Olimpico, where Roma will take on Internazionale. The Giallorossi are wounded after a surprise 1-0 loss away to Udinese last weekend and will be determined to bounce back, while Inter romped to a 3-0 home win over Frosinone featuring two goals from Keita Balde to close in on second-placed Napoli.

Both teams will come into the game on the back of tough midweek fixtures in the UEFA Champions League, with Roma at home to Real Madrid and Inter away to Tottenham Hotspur. The Nerazzurri won 3-1 on their last trip to Roma in August 2017 and will be favourites to take down Eusebio Di Francesco’s side in the ‘Eternal City’.

Another key match as far as Champions League qualification is concerned sees Milan host Parma at the San Siro in the early game on Sunday afternoon. Just two points separates the teams in fifth and sixth respectively as they look to close in on the top four.

It will also see an Ivory Coast battle between Milan’s midfield dynamo Franck Kessie and Parma’s veteran forward Gervinho, whose five goals this season make him the highest-scoring African in Serie A.

Elsewhere, Kalidou Koulibaly’s Napoli face a tricky away match at Atalanta on Monday night, the Sassuolo v Udinese clash on Sunday is set to feature several high-profile African players, such as Kevin-Prince Boateng, Khouma Babacar and Seko Fofana, and SPAL’s Alfred Gomis will look to keep a clean sheet when Ismael Bennacer’s Empoli visit the Stadio Paolo Mazza on Saturday.

Key match stats

Fiorentina v Juventus – Head-to-head, all competitions

Matches played 49

Fiorentina wins 7

Juve wins 27

Draws 15

Roma v Internazionale – Head-to-head, all competitions

Matches played 68

Roma wins 20

Inter wins 28

Draws 20

Milan v Parma – Head-to-head, all competitions

Matches played 43

Milan wins 22

Parma wins 10

Draws 11

Serie A fixtures, 1-3 December

All times GMT

Saturday 1 December

2pm SPAL v Empoli – LIVEon SS8, Max2 & SelGO5

5pm Fiorentina v Juventus – LIVEon SS8, Max2 & SelGO5

7:30pm Sampdoria v Bologna – LIVEon SS8, Max360 & SelGO5

Sunday 2 December

1:30am Milan v Parma – LIVEon SS8, Max2 & SelGO5

2pm Frosinone v Cagliari – LIVEon SS8 & SelGO5

2pm Sassuolo v Udinese – LIVEon SS12

2pm Torino v Genoa – LIVEon SS10/SS11, Max360 & SelGO2

5pm Chievo v Lazio – LIVEon SS8

7:30pm Roma v Internazionale – LIVEon SS8, Max2 & SelGO5

Monday 3 December

7:30pm Atalanta v Napoli – LIVEon SS8, Max2 & SelGO5