In-form Fiorentina Eye Europa League

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With the season coming towards an end, teams are battling for places in the top half of Serie A and Fiorentina and Lazio meet in what should be a great match at the Artemio Franchi on Wednesday night.

The hosts, Fiorentina, have endured a tough time of things following the death of Davide Astori but the players have responded superbly and no one could have asked any more of them and the management at the club.  To finish in the Europa League places would be a great end to a difficult season.

Lazio want to qualify for the Champions League and start this round of fixtures in third place. However, they are level on points with fourth place Roma and Inter Milan are just 1 point behind in fifth.  Dropped points in this game could see Lazio slip out of the Champions League qualifying places.

Trends show Fiorentina come into this game on an eight-match unbeaten run in Serie A and they have won six of their last seven games.  Following the defeat on match day 24 against Juventus at home, Fiorentina were in the bottom half of the table and there seemed little hope of European football next season.

However, Fiorentina have remained unbeaten following that match and have enjoyed some good wins over Torino, Udinese and Roma. However, the 0-0 draw at home with SPAL on the weekend was a disappointment.

Defensively, Fiorentina have been excellent and trends show they have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven league games and this has given them the basis for their recent climb up Serie A and into Europa League contention.

Lazio suffered a huge setback when they were eliminated from the Europa League at the quarter-final stage by Salzburg last week.  The match was there for Lazio but a dramatic collapse saw them lose the match 4-1 and bow out of the competition.

All attention is now on Serie A and Lazio picked up a 0-0 draw in what was a scrappy Rome derby on Sunday night.  To not lose the match after what happened in the Europa League was key for Lazio but it was a surprise to see them fail to score given their excellent record in-front of goal this season.

Trends show Lazio are in good form in Serie A and they have lost just one of their last eight league games.  The defeat was at home against Juventus and since then, Lazio have won two and drawn three of their five Serie A games.

Lazio have scored 2 or more goals in each of their last three away league games.

Team news and Fiorentina look set to be without midfielder Milan Badelj, who has a knee injury.  Cyril Thereau has a thigh problem but is being assessed and could be available.

Lazio travel without defender Stefan Radu following his sending off in the Rome derby on Sunday.  Patric is injured but otherwise, Lazio should be a at full strength for the game.  Luis Alberto will be hoping to start the match having been a substitute on the weekend.

Both teams have been tough to beat in Serie A recently and this game could end in a low scoring draw.