Napoli winger Dries Mertens. (Photo : Getty Images)
Reeling contenders ACF Fiorentina (7-5-5, 26 points) will try to go back to their winning ways as they square off with powerhouse team SSC Napoli (10-3-4, 34 points) in a 2016-2017 Serie A season match on Dec. 22, Thursday at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 2:45 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Fiorentina is on a two-game losing slide as they have also lost three of their last six fixtures. As a result, the team dropped to the eighth spot in the overall standings, seven points below the final Europa League qualifying berth held by AC Milan and eight points behind the final Champions League spot occupied by Napoli.
Head coach Paulo Sousa's squad was romped by capital city club Lazio, 1-3, on the road at the Stadio Olimpico last Sunday for their third loss in the last five rounds, as per SB Nation.
Lazio netted two goals in the first half, courtesy of Senegalese forward Keita Balde and Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia in the 23rd and 45th+4 minutes respectively, to reach the break with a 2-0 advantage.
Viola was able to put themselves on the board in the 64th minute with a goal by substitute winger Mauro Zarate as he buried a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
However, I Biancocelesti sealed the win with a goal by Romanian defender Stefan Radu right at the stroke of full-time.
Meanwhile, Napoli defeated middling team Torino in a high-scoring 5-3 encounter at their home field of Stadio San Paolo also last Sunday, BBC Sport reported.
Belgian winger Dries Mertens was the man of the match for head coach Maurizio Sarri's side as he scored an amazing four goals in the contest.
Mertens the first three goals of the match in the 13th, 18th, and 22nd minutes to give Partenopei a commanding 3-0 lead at the half.
Torino then netted their first goal in the 58th with a left-footed shot by Italian forward Andrea Belotti, but Romanian defender Vlad Chiriches made it a 4-1 count for Napoli in the 70th.
Luca Rossettini made it 4-2 for Il Toro in the 76th before Mertens scored his fourth goal four minutes later. Iago Falque completed the final score with a goal in the 84th.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 3-1 victory by Napoli.
Fiorentina starting lineup (3-4-2-1 formation): Tatarusanu; Astori, De Maio, Tomovic; Olivera, Sanchez, Vecino, Tello; Kalinic, Ilicic; Bernardeschi
Napoli starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Reina; Ghoulam, Chiriches, Albiol, Soderlund; Hamsik, Zielinski, Jorginho; Insigne, Callejon, Mertens
