Fiorentina vs Napoli
Fiorentina and Napoli go head-to-head at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in an exciting Serie A fixture.
Fiorentina’s form in the early stage of the 2021/22 Serie A season represents a significant turnaround from their underwhelming 13th-place finish in 2020/21, with Vincenzo Italiano’s side winning four of their opening six league fixtures so far (L2). Before eking out a 1-0 away win over Udinese last time out, each of Fiorentina’s first five Serie A matches this season have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet, highlighting the potential for a high-scoring affair. Worryingly, though, ‘La Viola’ have suffered four defeats in their previous six top-flight meetings with Napoli (W1, D1), including a pair of losses last season, frustratingly drawing a blank on four occasions in the process. Additionally, the hosts have claimed just one win in their last 12 top-flight H2Hs in Florence (D5, L6).
Meanwhile, Napoli’s Serie A season under new manager Luciano Spalletti has been off to a flying start. Indeed, the ‘Partenopei’ head into proceedings as the only side to win all six league matches to date, winning the last three by an aggregate score of 10-0. Delivering action from the get-go, the visitors have opened the scoring before half-time in each of their three Serie A matches away from home this term, netting an average of 3.33 goals per game in that sequence. A potential victory here would see Napoli equal the club’s best-ever seven-game start to a new top-flight campaign. It would also enable Spalletti to go unbeaten in his first seven matches of a new league season for only the second time in his managerial career. Scoring first could be of the essence here, considering that three of their last four Serie A H2Hs in Florence have seen one or both sides draw a blank (W2, D1, L1).