Photo by Cesare Purini/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images The Viola are ready for another summer of turmoil. The latest news from the Fiorentina org chart isn’t too exciting. Recruitment expert Nicolás Burdisso may be on his way out, with AS Roma hoping to bring him back to the capital. With Vincenzo Italiano reaching one foot out the door and the still-shocking death of Joe Barone, it seems pretty clear that the Viola have reached the end of a cycle and will restart it over the summer. That turmoil is matched by the looming roster churn. In retrospect, it makes sense. With Italiano on the w ..read more

Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images The Viola have fielded a side that could charitably be called experimental. Late news Salernitana manager Stefano Colantuono seems to be setting out with a 4-4-1-1ish shape with Antonio Candreva as the 10, although it could end up being a 4-3-1-2 or even a 3-4-2-1. Keep an eye on rightback Niccolò Pierozzi, who’s on loan from the Viola. Fiorentina boss Vinceno Italiano has indicated his team’s focus on the Conference League and the Coppa Italia here, rotating heavily to keep his stars fresh for those competitions. The big news is a first appearance in nea ..read more

It was stressful. It was ugly. It was exhausting. But at the end, it’s the Viola advancing to the Conference League semifinal. Pre-match Vincenzo Italiano brought Nico González, Arthur, Dodô, and Nikola Milenković back into the side. Giacomo Bonaventura was slated to start but picked up a late injury. Miroslav Koubek trotted out the same XI he did last week, so no surprises there. First half The match immediately settled into a predictable pattern: Fiorentina dominated possession and territory while Viktoria Plzeň hung on like grim death. Andrea Belotti had a great chance early but Martin Jed ..read more

The Viola have 90 minutes to crack a very strong defense. Late news Fiorentina mister Vincenzo Italiano loses Giacomo Bonaventura to injury, so Arthur Melo and Rolando Mandragora comprise the engine room. Nico González, Nikola Milenković, and Christian Kouamé return to the starting lineup, while Pietro Terracciano continues between the sticks instead of Oliver Christensen. Viktoria Plzeň manager Miroslav Koubek, on the other hand, trots out the same XI he did last week. Lineups Fiorentina (4-2-3-1): Terracciano; Dodô, Milenković, Ranieri, Biraghi; Arthur, Mandragora; González, Beltrán, Kouam ..read more

A weird, scruffy game ends with a point apiece. Pre-match Vincenzo Italiano rotated his side heavily ahead of the all-important Conference League quarterfinal against Viktoria Plzeň. Nikola Milenković, Arthur Melo, and Nico González all dropped out of the XI, making it quite clear that the club’s priorities are the cup competitions, as they ought to be at this point. Alberto Gilardino’s made a single change to last week’s team, prizing continuity. Having ex-captain Milan Badelj and famously failed transfer target Albert Guðmundsson out there added a bit of extra spice. Before kickoff, there w ..read more

Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Viola have some significant absences as they prepare for a mid-week clash in the Conference League Late news Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano rotates his side heavily, indicating that he’s prioritizing the Conference League. Fabiano Parisi, Alfred Duncan, and Jonathan Ikoné all start, with Nico González on the bench. And hey, if this group can’t win a trophy, at least the fans have reminded us that the Primavera certainly know how to. Bello striscione della Curva #Fiesole per la @acffiorentina Primavera, campione per l’ottava volta nell ..read more

Photo by MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images Excruciating agony. Pre-match Miroslav Loubek only made two changes from the weekend, while Vincenzo Italiano welcomed Arthur back into the fold alongside four other changes. First half Nothing. LMQ had a shot from Facundo Roncaglia range that came close. Viktoria Plzeň had a shot that Matěj Vydra dragged wide but he was probably offside in the buildup so it wouldn’t have counted anyways. It was mostly just roughhousing as Fiorentina kept three-quarters of the possession as their hosts dropped about 14 behind the ball at all times. Second half Not mu ..read more

Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images Nothing too crazy but a welcome return for one of this season’s standout performers. Late news Viktoria Plzeň manager Miroslav Koubek makes just 2 changes from the midweek, bringing in Lukáš Hejda at the back and Radim Řezník on the left. Keep an eye out for Matěj Vydra, who spent a couple of years in Italy with Udinese. Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano opts for Pietro Terracciano between the sticks as Oliver Christensen still isn’t quite ready. Lucas Martínez Quarta, Dodǒ, Arthur, Lucas Beltrán, and Riccardo Sottil all rotate in from the ..read more

Your dad dressing up for a parent teacher conference. | Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images Unlike previous Fiorentina managers, the current mister doesn’t have a trademark accessory. As the end of Vincenzo Italiano’s tenure approaches, it’s time to start the retrospective of his time with Fiorentina. We’ll look back at triumphs and despair, tactical hits and misses, yadda yadda yadda. What’s really important here, of course, is his contribution to the storied fashion of Viola managers. Since the turn of the millennium, we’ve seen some fantastic fits on the touchlines. From Siniša Mihajlov ..read more

Of fucking course it’s Ranieri there to hoist him skywards. | Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images It’s only one win, but a little giddiness is acceptable. Player grades Pietro Terracciano—6.5: Made a couple of good saves on Isak Hien and Gianluca Scamacca in the second half to keep the clean sheet and was quick off his line to sweep up behind the defense when necessary. Safe hands from a player who’s quietly been one of Fiorentina’s best this season Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images Real dad getting out of his comfortable chair to show these kids at the pa ..read more