Fiorentina Vs Lecce

After enduring a difficult spell of three consecutive defeats, Fiorentina will be eager to rejuvenate their pursuit of a top-four finish when they welcome struggling Lecce to the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Friday. The Viola have experienced a dip in form following their impressive victory over Inter Milan at the start of February, whereas their upcoming opponents have managed to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone in recent weeks.

Last Sunday, Fiorentina took on a relegation-threatened Hellas Verona side in a match where many expected them to halt their recent slump. However, their struggles continued as they conceded in the dying moments of the game, suffering a 1-0 loss. To make matters worse, the match was marred by a serious head injury to star striker Moise Kean, adding further concern for Fiorentina’s supporters.

Despite their shock 3-0 victory over reigning champions Inter Milan earlier in the month, Raffaele Palladino’s men have since failed to pick up a single point in their last three Serie A outings. The last time Fiorentina suffered four successive defeats in the league dates back to 2019, a streak they will be desperate to avoid repeating.

Prior to the turn of the year, Fiorentina had been averaging an impressive 1.88 points per game while conceding only 0.90 goals per match. However, their form in 2025 has been less inspiring, as they have managed an average of just 1.11 points per game, with their defensive record also deteriorating, conceding 1.40 goals per game.

Despite this concerning dip in form, Fiorentina remain in the race for Champions League qualification, currently sitting just seven points adrift of fourth-placed Juventus with 12 matches left to play. Furthermore, they still have a chance at securing silverware, as they prepare to face Panathinaikos in the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League. Before shifting their focus to European competition, though, they will first need to address their league struggles and return to winning ways against Lecce.

Fiorentina can take confidence from their emphatic performance in the reverse fixture earlier this season when they dismantled Lecce 6-0, with Danilo Cataldi registering his first-ever top-flight brace. They now have an opportunity to complete a league double over the Giallorossi for just the second time in their history.

On the other hand, Lecce arrive at the Stadio Franchi with a historically poor record in Florence, having lost five of their six previous visits. However, more recent encounters have been kinder to them, as they have lost just once in their last six meetings with Fiorentina, suggesting that past precedent may not be entirely against them.

Despite their improved performances, Lecce have struggled immensely in front of goal, becoming the only Serie A team yet to score a single goal in February. Their most recent outing saw them fall to a narrow 1-0 defeat at home against Udinese, further highlighting their attacking deficiencies.

Lecce ended January on a high with a 3-1 triumph over fellow relegation contenders Parma, but their fortunes quickly soured as they followed up with consecutive goalless draws against Bologna and Monza before suffering their latest setback against Udinese.

Currently four points clear of the relegation zone, Marco Giampaolo’s side remain in danger and must rectify their issues in attack if they wish to maintain their top-flight status. Their offensive struggles have been a persistent problem throughout the season, as they hold the worst goalscoring record in Serie A.

Montenegrin striker Nikola Krstovic has epitomized Lecce’s inefficiency in front of goal. Despite attempting 102 shots in the league this season, he has only managed to find the net seven times, making him the player with the largest disparity between shots and goals across Europe’s top five leagues. His struggles in front of goal have been compounded by a lack of support from his fellow forwards, who have failed to contribute on a consistent basis.

With Fiorentina determined to reignite their push for a top-four finish and Lecce fighting for survival, Friday’s clash promises to be a crucial encounter for both teams. The Viola will look to capitalize on their superior attacking firepower and home advantage, while Lecce will hope to overcome their scoring woes and grind out a much-needed result to boost their survival hopes.