(Football news) Milan is concentrated on finishing in the top two, while the Violas are searching for a new head coach. The general manager of the team passed away after becoming ill shortly before their match against Atalanta BC, which was subsequently postponed.
Fiorentina faced a developing tragedy just before their penultimate match before the international break; general manager Joe Barone was taken to a hospital in neighboring Milan but passed away. As a result, the match against Atalanta was called off at the last minute.
Following a fortnight of reflection, news has emerged that coach Vincenzo Italiano may move on when his contract expires at the end of the season, leaving Viola president Rocco Commisso with a rebuild on his hands this summer.
With one point from their most recent domestic outing, a 2-2 draw at home to Roma, Italiano’s side have secured 27 from a possible 42 on offer at Stadio Franchi so far, but they now return to action with a tough contest against Serie A’s second-placed side.
Lacking a prolific striker since the departure of Dusan Vlahovic two years ago, Fiorentina’s last 10 league goals have been scored by 10 different players, while Antonin Barak found the net in their recent Europa Conference League draw with Maccabi Haifa, which secured aggregate victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
Failing to finish off their opponents has proved costly of late, as the Tuscan club have also drawn three of their last four league games, so they will hope to find a more ruthless edge during an upcoming flurry of fixtures.
In addition to taking on Viktoria Plzen in a two-legged Conference League tie, Fiorentina are semi-finalists in the Coppa Italia for a second season running – they meet Atalanta next week, between challenging games against Milan and Juventus.
When Milan and the Viola met in November at San Siro, Theo Hernandez scored the game’s lone goal with a penalty kick shortly before halftime. Milan won 1-0.
Since then, the Rossoneri have seen highs and lows, winning back Serie A after a mid-season setback but losing both the Coppa Italia and the Champions League. They did, however, strengthen their hold on second place in the standings after defeating Hellas Verona shortly before international football became involved.
American winger Christian Pulisic, one of three Milan scorers at Stadio Bentegodi, is just one goal away from scoring in double figures for the first time this season. He has already tied his highest season’s total in terms of league goals.
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