Tuscan rivals Fiorentina and Pisa will meet for the second time this season as both clubs clash on Monday night with six points for relegation.

The Viola are fighting hard ahead of a high-stakes derby at the Stadio Franchi. Serie A Their old enemy seems already doomed, but survives.

match preview

The last time Fiorentina faced Pisa in the club’s first top-flight competition since 1991, there was just a three-point difference between the two sides, and neither side has really recovered from such a slow start.

Since that meeting in late September, the Viola have spent most of the following months inside Serie A’s drop zone, with relegation still a serious possibility.

Manager Paolo Vanoli has overseen improvements since arriving at the start of this season, but his team remains fragile, having kept just one clean sheet in their last 20 league games.

With 13 games left and a precarious three-point difference, they got quick revenge for being kicked out of the Coppa Italia last week by defeating in-form Como.

They then won the first leg on Thursday with second-half goals from Luca Ranieri, Rolando Mandragola and Roberto Piccoli, as they beat Jagiellonia Bialystok 3-0 in the play-offs, taking a step towards a place in the last 16 of the conference league.

In frigid weather and with a heavily changed team, the Viola finally recorded their first consecutive wins of the season.

Ahead of their return match against the Polish champions, Vanoli’s side will have to pay close attention to Monday night’s Tuscan derby, which is expected to be a closely contested match.

Locked in a battle against Lecce, Genoa, Torino and Cremonese to avoid the final relegation spot, Fiorentina may have won just two of their 12 league games in the Franchi so far, but history will be firmly on their side.

Dating back several decades, the Florentine club have remained unbeaten in seven Serie A home games against Pisa, conceding just three goals.

Pisa, who came from behind to draw 0-0, have only won once in 15 top-flight meetings with Fiorentina, a 2-1 win at home in 1987.

More pertinently, the Nerazzurri are without a win in 14 league games since their only success of the season in early November.

A loss or draw in this derby would therefore extend the club’s negative record and ensure relegation after just one year back in Serie A.

Nine points from safety, Pisa’s comeback campaign has been a disappointment, with new manager Oscar Hiljemark replacing Alberto Gilardino earlier this month.

So far, the latter has overseen a tough goalless draw with Hellas Verona and last week’s frenetic 2-1 defeat against AC Milan, in which they only conceded a point through Luka Modric’s late goal.

The Nerazzurri are now back in action, looking for their first away win in the top flight in 34 years, and Pisa fans will be hoping to see that quest completed at the Stadio Franchi.

Fiorentina Serie A form:

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Fiorentina form (all competitions):

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Pisa Serie A form:

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team news

Several regular starters should return after Vanoli rotated resources in Poland and made eight changes to the squad that beat Como.

In order to prioritize survival at the top level, key players such as David de Gea, Dodo and Moise Kean were all left at home. Mandragora played, but must serve his suspension on Monday.

Keane is Fiorentina’s main marksman, with seven goals in Serie A, having scored in both of his last two league appearances. The Italian striker’s ability may have diminished compared to last season, but only Capocannoniere leader Lautaro Martinez has attempted more shots from inside the box.

Due to an ankle injury, Albert Guðmundsson could join long-term absentee Tarik Lamptey on the sideline, while Pisa will be without Daniel Denon, Isak Vral and Simone Scafé.

The latter’s fellow goalkeeper Adrian Semper is also doubtful, so third-choice stopper Nicolas could continue as his substitute, while central midfielder Marius Marin is available after serving a one-match suspension.

Matteo Tramoni, who will play in the away team’s attack alongside top scorer Stefano Moreo with five goals, has been involved in three goals in the last three away games.

Fiorentina’s expected starting lineup:

De Gea. Dodo, Pongracic, Ranieri, Parisi. Fagioli, N’Dour. Harrison, Brescianini, Solomon. Keene

Pisa’s expected starting lineup:

Nicholas. Canestrelli, Caracciolo, Bozinov. Thule, Loyola, Aebischer, Angori. Tramoni, Moreo. stojilkovic

Says: Fiorentina 2-1 Pisa

Fiorentina will be hoping to avoid facing Pisa again in Serie B next season, and extending the Nerazzurri’s away woes could improve their chances of survival.

Both teams have dropped a huge number of points from the top of the table, but with Pisa still without an away win and conceding the most away goals in all of Serie A, the Viola should extend their comeback.

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