Two teams with very little to separate them in and around the Serie A relegation zone face off as Pisa host Fiorentina on Sunday.
Match News and Current Form
Pisa could not turn their xG supremacy over Napoli into a win (L 3-2) on Monday, so they remain rooted in the bottom three. That is a third defeat in a row for the newly-promoted side - who started the league campaign with an encouraging 1-1 draw against Atalanta - although with all three of those losses coming by just one goal, the Tuscans are perhaps on the cusp of finding those marginal improvements which could change their fortunes. Having conceded first in each of those defeats, Pisa will no doubt be searching for their first Serie A clean sheet since head coach Alberto Gilardino’s summer arrival.
Fiorentina know a thing or two about squandering leads, as they were ahead against Como only to slip to a 2-1 defeat last weekend, with the winner coming in the 94th minute. La Viola are yet to register a league victory this term (D2, L2), making it just the third time in the three-points-for-a-win era that they have had as few as two points after their first four games of a top-flight campaign. Another unwanted statistic looms large, as they have failed to win any of their first five matches in a Serie A season only three times before, each time flirting with relegation.
Head-to-Head History
This will be the first Serie A fixture between these sides since February 1991, while Pisa have won only once in 14 top-flight H2Hs (D6, L7).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Pisa have conceded a league-high seven corners per game this season after matchday four.
Pisa have failed to get on the scoresheet before half-time in four of their five competitive games this term.
Six of Fiorentina’s last seven league matches have seen both teams find the net.
Fiorentina have faced the most shots on target in Serie A ahead of this weekend (26).
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
M'Bala Nzola has scored in his last two matches against his current parent club Fiorentina and also netted for Pisa at Napoli earlier this week, with all three goals making the score 1-1. Rolando Mandragora could precede him on the scoresheet here, as both of his goals for Fiorentina this season have been game openers.
Idrissa Touré is set to be back in contention for Pisa after missing the Napoli game. Fiorentina summer signing Tariq Lamptey suffered a serious knee injury against Como and will now be out for an extended period.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
Due to Pisa and Fiorentina’s defensive issues, backing both teams to score here could be fruitful.
Author: Sridhar Bhamidi