[Forza_Roma]

Serie A Week 37 - 20/5/07 (14.00 UK)

Messina - FiorentinaStadio San FilippoFiorentina should book themselves a place in next season’s UEFA Cup when they travel to Messina at the weekend. The Viola need just a point to give some sense to a campaign compromised by their 15-point Calciopoli deduction and the already relegated Messina look unlikely to put up a real fight.

The Tuscan club are now fifth in the standings after their 1-0 win over Cagliari in the last round. Giampaolo Pazzini was the goal hero and he should retain his place in the line-up at the expense of Luca Toni. The latter is still struggling physically and may only be fit enough to start on the bench at the San Filippo.

Boss Cesare Prandelli signed a new four-year contract with the club this week and will be proud of his team’s efforts this term. Yet he’ll need to juggle things around for Sunday. Star striker Adrian Mutu, who has been rejuvenated by his former Parma tactician, is suspended along with Michele Pazienza. Marco Donadel and Mario Santana are injury concerns.

The Viola are in a decent run of form with three wins and a 0-0 draw at Milan in their last four games since a shock reverse at Parma. And although they have only won six times on the road this term, Messina are one of the poorest sides in the League with just one point collected from their last nine games. They were walloped 4-1 by Parma in the last round thanks to a display which verged on the embarrassing.

Bruno Bolchi, their third boss of the campaign, may stuff the side with youngsters given that they have nothing left to play for. “My players are already thinking about their holidays,” said the tactician after their latest reverse.

He also has some massive injury problems to contend with. The likes of Angelo Rea, Mark Iuliano, Marco Zoro, Mitsuo Ogasawara, Massimo Minetti, Sergio Floccari and Ibrahima Bakayoko have all spent time in the treatment room of late. The only hope for Messina comes in the shape of star striker Rigano’ who has netted 15 goals in 25 games this term.

Man on fire: Giampaolo Pazzini (Fiorentina) – The Under-21 international is staking his claim to a starting shirt for next season given the likely departure of Luca Toni. A youngster with undoubted talent, Pazzini will be looking to fire his side into Europe this weekend.

Last season: Messina 2-2 Fiorentina

Form guide: Messina (L L D L L) Fiorentina (L W W D W)
Messina (probable): Paoletti; Zanchi, Morello, Candela, Giallombardo; Lavecchia, Pestrin, D’Aversa, Masiello, Parisi; Rigano’
Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Dainelli, Pasqual; Blasi, Liverani, Montolivo; Reginaldo, Pazzini, Jorgensen
Ref: To follow...

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