Like fellow Champions League hopefuls Palermo, Fiorentina too have failed to make a bright start to the season and have yet to register a win in the league. The Viola were expected to fight for a European place but at the moment they are struggling against relegation.
Fiorentina failed to win yet again on Wednesday evening when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Genoa away from home. It was only their second draw in four league fixtures, which sees them stay third from bottom with two points from four matches.
Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic should be feeling the pressure and he needs to find a solution quickly. The comfort of the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence could help them secure a win against Parma on Sunday but the Viola have to step up their game to collect maximum points from this fixture.
Going Strong And Steady
For Parma 2010-11 will be about consolidating their position in the Italian top flight and the Ducali have been doing just that so far. With five points from four league matches, Pasquale Marino's side are in 10th place.
In midweek Parma drew 1-1 with Lecce away from home in what was their second successive draw. It followed 2-1 loss to Catania in Sicily that was preceded by a 2-0 win against Brescia at home in their first game of the new season.
Parma were not especially strong on their travels last season and this time around too they have not shown much improvement. Of the two games they have featured in away from the Stadio Ennio Tardini, they have won neither.
TEAM NEWS
Fiorentina
Jovetic, D'Agostino and Pasqual are unavailable because of injuries.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Frey, De Silvestri, Gamberini, Kroldrup, Felipe; Montolivo, Donadel, Zanetti; Cerci, Gilardino, Vargas
Parma
Galloppa, Paloschi and Giovinco are out injured.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Mirante, Zaccardo, Dellafiore, A. Lucarelli, Pisano; Dzemaili, Morrone, Gobbi; Bojinov, Crespo, Marques
Prediction
This could be a rather uninspiring game and one suspects that a single goal will be enough to settle the scores. It could go either way but Fiorentina do have superior quality and could just about nick it.
Fiorentina 1-0 Parma 
