In midweek Fiorentina gave Inter a run for their money but eventually went down 2-1 in Florence. It was a rescheduled Serie A fixture that was originally slated to be played in December, and one suspects that coach Sinisa Mihajlovic didn't really expect a victory over the Nerazzurri.
That's mainly because Fiorentina have wriggled their way out of the tentacles of the relegation octopus and are secured under the blanket of mid-table mediocrity. With 32 points from 25 matches, the Viola have a ten-point gap between themselves and the bottom-three.
Last weekend the Florence-based side accomplished their first away win of the league campaign as they defeated Palermo 4-2 in Sicily. In what was thoroughly entertaining match, Fiorentina gave a refreshing account of themselves, and will hope to win this weekend too.
Mid-Table Mediocrity
Like Fiorentina, Sampdoria won last weekend and like Fiorentina they lost in midweek. The Blucerchiati defeated Bologna 3-1 at home to station themselves in mid-table but suffered a humiliation as they went down 1-0 to Genoa in the derby In midweek.
Not that the loss has dragged the Samp into the relegation quagmire. After 25 rounds of matches, the former Italian champions find themselves in 13th place with 30 points, eight more than Brescia, who are third from bottom in the Serie A table.
Sampdoria's away form, though, makes them the second best side going into this encounter with Fiorentina in Florence. Domenico Di Carlo's men have conceded 19 goals in 12 away fixtures in the league and have won just two of them.
TEAM NEWS
Fiorentina
Vargas, Santana, Kroldrup, Jovetic and Frey are unavailable for the Viola as they are suffering from injuries.
Sampdoria
Semioli, Pozzi and Biabiany are injured and will miss the trip to Florence.
Prediction
Fiorentina appear to have turned their fortunes around and will be confident of picking up a victory against Sampdoria. The Viola have looked better at home and will just about edge past Samp.
Fiorentina 2-1 Sampdoria 
