Fiorentina vs. AC Milan Match Preview and Thread

Date: Monday, 16 March

Time: 6 p.m. UK/2 p.m. EDT

Venue: Stadio Artemio Franchi

TV info: ESPN UK/Rai International, BeIN Sports (U.S. and Canada)

Three wins in 2015 for Milan, Riccardo Montolivo and Nigel de Jong are out of the match. Though Fiorentina are coming off a back-breaking 4-0 loss to Lazio, they are still one of the best teams in Italy. After all, they were the team that ended Juventus' unbeaten streak not that long ago.

This game though, will be the start of a run for the Viola that involves seven matches in 22 days. With that in mind, they are already suffering from the burnout of competing on multiple fronts and it does seem that they are heavily lacking in the depth required for such endeavors. Normally that would mean good news for MIlan since the Viola have been lackluster, but this season has been everything but good.

There's been no consistency for Milan. This can be seen as good or bad, because the norm seems to be losing meekly against the bigger teams while conceding last minute goals against the likes of Hellas Verona. Pippo Inzaghi's job is almost always in question these days, with reports of the team being sold swirling in the newspapers as well. Everything's a mess.

In their last five league matches, Fiorentina have walked away victorious from three. Before losing to Lazio, they beat Inter, drew against Torino and won against Sassuolo and Atalanta.

On the opposite end, Milan have won only one of the last five. Draws against Verona and Chievo followed the lone win against Cesena. This after the draw against Empoli and horrid defeat against Juventus.

The game could feature Keisuke Honda behind Mattia Destro --who was mostly on the bench against Verona-- and Jeremy Menez. Andrea Poli is out due to suspension, Sulley Muntari will probably never start again and Montolivo/De Jong are both out with injuries. That probably leaves Giacomo Bonaventura, Michael Essien and Marco van Ginkel.

Ignazio Abate will return after his thigh problem. Alex and Phillippe Mexes are slated for the center roles with the king Luca Antonelli holding down the left-back role. Diego Lopez will remain in goal.