Fiorentina Winger Federico Bernardeschi. (Photo : Getty Images)
Contending club ACF Fiorentina (6-3-5, 23 points) is set to face rising team US Sassuolo Calcio (5-8-2, 17 points) in a 2016-2017 Serie A season match on Monday, Dec. 12 at the Artemio Franchi Stadium.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 1:00 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Fiorentina has been unbeaten in five of their last six matches and is currently settled in the eighth spot of the Italian top flight table, five points below fifth-place Napoli, who holds the final Europa League qualifying berth for next season.
The team bounced back from a loss in the previous round by nipping cellar-dwellers Palermo, 2-1, during their most recent Serie A fixture on Dec. 4 also at their home stadium of Artemio Franchi, as per ESPN.
Italian winger Federico Bernardeschi opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a penalty kick off a hand ball by Palermo defender Haitam Aleesami.
Viola held the one-point lead until the halftime break before Palermo was able to level the count four minutes after the restart with a goal by Bosnian midfielder Mato Jajalo.
It looked like a 1-1 draw for both sides as the full-time whistle was blown, but head coach Paulo Sousa's side netted the winning goal in injury time courtesy of Senegalese striker Khouma Babacar.
Meanwhile, Sassuolo is slowly getting their groove with a two-game unbeaten run after losing four consecutive games.
Their last game was a 3-0 rout of lowly club Empoli at their home field of Mapei Stadium-Città del Tricolore also on Dec. 4, via SkySports.
Italian midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini scored the opening goal with a spot kick in the 22nd minute before winger Federico Ricci doubled the lead in the 36th with his own penalty kick.
Head coach Eusebio Di Francesco's boys completed their three-goal haul with a right-footed shot by winger Antonino Ragusa in the 53rd minute.
Sassuolo is currently in the 15th place in the overall standings, eight points above the bottom three relegation area.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a close 2-1 win for Fiorentina.
Fiorentina starting lineup (3-4-1-2 formation): Tatarusanu; Astori, Tomovic, Salcedo; Bernardeschi, Valero, Vecino, Tello; Babacar; Ilicic, Kalinic
Sassuolo starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Consigli; Peluso, Acerbi, Antei, Gazzola; Missiroli, Pellegrini, Magnanelli; Ragusa, Ricci, Defrel
