AC MILAN v FIORENTINA: OPPONENT REVIEW

The Rossoneri have a second straight game at San Siro following the derby in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. In their first league fixture in April 2025, AC Milan host Fiorentina in a direct head-to-head in the race for European football. Palladino's side are currently four points ahead of the Rossoneri and are in great form, having recorded important victories against Juventus and Atalanta on either side of the international break. Next week, the Tuscan outfit travel to Slovenia to take on NK Celje in the Conference League quarter-finals, which could influence decision-making ahead of the game against Sérgio Conceição's Rossoneri.

Fiorentina are one of the most notable teams in Serie A this season. They are currently in eighth place (five points off the Champions League places), which should give us some idea about the task ahead. The aforementioned wins against the Bianconeri and La Dea are proof of the Viola's record in direct head-to-heads. We should also mention, however, that Palladino's men don't tend to travel well: in their last five away games, the last four (Monza, Inter, Hellas Verona and Napoli) and won just one: Lazio on 26 January.

A LOT HAS CHANGED IN SIX MONTHS, BUT THE CONCEPTS REMAIN THE SAME
Exactly six months have gone by since Fiorentina's 2-1 win in the reverse fixture, with the Rossoneri left rueing missed opportunities. The game of the Franchi kicked off an eight-game unbeaten run for the Viola, who went second at the time. Since that run of form, Fiorentina have slowed somewhat, owing in part to the loss of a key component in midfield: Edoardo Bove. For that reason, their system has changed a lot with respect to the team that played that day. The Viola began the season with a back four, often dropping deep into a low block. Most of their attacking threat came from the left-hand side, with former AC Milan man Adli the central figure in the build-up. In their attempts to be direct on the counter, Fiorentina tend to give up possession (they average 49.2% this season), but in the period just after Bove's absence began, the Viola struggled to connect defence and attack.

After a results crisis put Palladino's job into question, the Viola stabilised by shifting to a back three and a more packed midfield. However, there are aspects that Fiorentina have excelled at all season: firstly, their threat from set pieces, especially corners. The Viola have scored seven goals from 118 corners taken and have conceded just 20% of their goals this season from set pieces, proof of the effectiveness of their zonal marking. We also need to highlight how quickly they get into games. Fiorentina have scored more goals in the first 15 minutes (8) than any other side this season, and are the only team not to have conceded once in the opening quarter of an hour all season.

REVOLVING AROUND KEAN, NEW SIGNINGS INTEGRATED
The Viola were certainly busy during the January transfer window. Six new faces arrived in Florence to make up for several departures from Vincenzo Italiano's side the season before. Three of these have made themselves indispensable for Palladino in recent weeks. The experience of Pablo Marí has enabled this shift to a back three alongside Comuzzo (who has rotated with Pongračić in recent matches) and Ranieri, both of whom were dependable in the first half of the season. Fagioli and Folorunsho operate together in the centre of the park, both covering the role and impact of Bove and affording their coach the chance to go with a midfield 5.

When discussing Fiorentina this season, though, it is impossible not to mention Moise Kean. The Italy international scored the only goal of the game against Atalanta last time out and, generally speaking, is having the best season of his career so far. The former Juventus striker is second only to Retegui on the goalscoring charts, is in the top five for shots attempted (fifth on 82) and is top for offsides given against him. Kean often turns up in the big games, having scored seven of his 16 goals against Inter, Atalanta, Juventus and Roma. His importance in Palladino's set-up also goes beyond just banging in the goals. Whether as a second striker or in an attacking midfield role, Albert Guðmundsson, who scored the winner on 6 October, is performing consistently. The Iceland international has often been held up by injuries this season, but he is also a big-game player, and his connection with Kean is evident. Both players will be a handful for the Rossoneri's defenders.

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