Fiorentina striker Nikola Kalinic. (Photo : Getty Images)
Erstwhile contending squad ACF Fiorentina (16-8-8, 56 points) is currently on a freefall as the team could not find any wins in their last six matches. They are scheduled to host seventh-placed team US Sassuolo Calcio (12-8-12, 48 points) at the Stadio Artemio Franchi this Sunday, April 17th in a 2015-2016 Serie A season game.
Fiorentina used to be one of the league leaders in the Italian domestic competitions during the first two-thirds of the season, but in the past six weeks head coach Paulo Sousa's team are winless and had dropped to fifth place in the current league table.
In their last game, Viola succumbed in a stunning 0-2 upset to middling team Empoli FC at the Stadio Carlo Castellani, as reported by SB Nation.
Azzurri players Manuel Pucciarelli and Piotr Zielinski scored one goal apiece for the hosts at the 41st and 88th minutes to bring down the Lilies in a deeper rut this late in the season.
They are now eight points below AS Roma, who are presently holding the third and final Champions League berth for next season while Inter Milan already overtook them for the fourth spot in the overall standings and are currently ahead by two points.
Meanwhile, Sassuolo is settled in the middle of the standings, at the seventh spot, with only six games left before the season's end.
I Neroverdi was nipped by another middling squad, Genoa CFC, during their most recent fixture, 0-1, at their home field of Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore last Saturday, as per SkySports.
Il Grifone midfielder Blerim Dzemaili scored the lone goal of the game at the 42nd minute as manager Eusebio Di Francesco's boys could not penetrate the visitors stifling defense all throughout the match.
It was the second loss of Sassuolo in its last six outings as the team aims to finish the season on a high note.
The predicted result is a 1-0 bounce back victory for Fiorentina.
Fiorentina starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Gonzalo, Astori, Alonso; Vecino, Valero; Tello, Ilicic, Bernarderschi; Kalinic
Sassuolo starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Consigli; Vrsaljko, Cannavaro, Acerbi, Peluso; Biondini, Magnanelli, Duncan; Berardi, Defrel, Sansone
