How high can Fiorentina Fly?

A long winning streak in Serie A has put Tuscany’s finest back among the big boys at the top of the table. Ahead of another European outing, Giancarlo Rinaldi examines their credentials to go deep in two competitions.

If you want to know what it was like the last time Fiorentina went on an eight-game winning streak in Italy’s top flight you will need to ask your Nonno. It was under Luis Carniglia some 64 years ago that the Viola enjoyed such a run of form. Even when playing not particularly well – like on Sunday against Cagliari – Raffaele Palladino’s men have developed a happy habit of gathering points that is as unfamiliar to their supporters as not throwing fireworks on an away European trip.

The more picky analysts will point out – correctly of course – that the abandoned game against Inter would have represented a slightly more tricky test than the Sardinian side to match the club record. Nonetheless, it has been an impressive run of results in an emotionally and physically testing period for the side from the Artemio Franchi. In a sign of unusual robustness, their defence has yet to be perforated in the final half-hour of any league game so far this season. Pietro Comuzzo and Luca Ranieri are the rocks upon which that rugged reputation has been constructed.

That 1959-60 season when they last won eight in a row ended up with a second place finish behind, almost inevitably, Juventus. With such a congested top end of the table this time around they could easily surge to the top or quickly slip to sixth or seventh place. Back to back games against the Bianconeri and Napoli at Christmas and the New Year will surely tell us more about how seriously we should take this particularly purple patch.

What cannot be doubted is the spirit in adversity shown by this side. The frightening events of their clash with the Nerazzurri and Edoardo Bove’s collapse would have rattled any team. Happily, the Roma loanee looks set to make a full recovery, although it appears unlikely that he will be able to play again in Serie A due to its strict regulations on heart conditions. The win over Cagliari without him – and Danilo Cataldi’s dedication of his beautiful goal to his teammate – showed the resilience of this squad.

There was the little matter of Coppa Italia elimination during the week as Palladino shuffled his pack and failed to see off Empoli on penalties. Surely every Fiorentina follower, however, would happily sacrifice that competition for continued success in the league and perhaps another venture far into the Conference League. They have scores to settle in that particular event.

It continues this week against struggling LASK and a win would put the Tuscans on the brink of a top eight finish that would see them avoid a play-off to make the last 16. In a hectic schedule, anything they can do to reduce their fixture congestion would surely be welcome. And yet they have often been unrecognisable in Europe this term compared with the solid side they have become on the domestic league front.

That has clearly been down to a much more experimental approach to line-ups against their continental adversaries. While there is a pretty clear starting XI in Serie A that has not been the case on Thursday nights and has led to some sloppy displays. They only sneaked into the group stage anyway and have failed to convince in any of their outings to this point.

But looking at the teams involved, they would surely fancy themselves to go a bit further. Only Chelsea need strike any fear into their hearts, and that is another reason to make sure they grab a top-eight place in the Conference League. They will surely believe they can get past any side they might meet in the last 16 if they go into it without having to go down the play-off route.

epa11646294 Fiorentinas’ midfielder Yacine Adli in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match ACF Fiorentina vs AC Milan at Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, 06 October 2024. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI

The loss of Bove undoubtedly leaves a gap in the Fiorentina midfield despite having found very dependable performers in Cataldi and Yacine Adli. The starting XI, certainly, is as good as any in the league with David de Gea back to his best, Dodô flying down his wing and Moise Kean dancing the Griddy with alarming regularity. It is the second string, though, which must leave reservations about exactly how high up the table they can ultimately finish.

Players like Jonathan Ikoné, Christian Kouamé and Lucas Martinez Quarta have been unable to step up with any regularity when called upon and that has to cast doubt over any realistic Scudetto hopes. A more likely target, perhaps, would be a Champions League finish which would surely represent a successful season. It might need investment in the January transfer window to ensure that it has the best possible chance of occurring.

Fiorentina aficionados will know that is a position they have found themselves in before and will hope President Rocco Commisso is in a generous mood. Most of them were underwhelmed by their summer signings but they have proved to be very impressive in an almost entirely revamped side. A couple more additions could cover for any deficiencies in their squad and really give them a platform to aim for a top four spot.

That will be a tough ask in a hugely competitive league and for a side which has – on occasions – ridden its luck. Still, they have bounced back from the Bove scare and cup elimination and face their old manager Vincenzo Italiano in the league next weekend. More seasoned fans might fear that the wheels will eventually come off – as they almost always have in the recent past – but for now they can just enjoy the journey. If it could deliver a trophy – or a return to Europe’s top competition – the boys and girls of the under renovation Curva Fiesole might never stop singing.

@ginkers

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