Late news
For his first official game in charge of Fiorentina, Fabio Grosso picks the same XI that he trotted out in the last unofficial one. That one was a loose 4-4-2 shape with Arthur Atta and Cher Ndour as the wide midfielders but featured a fair bit of rotation, with those two in particular dropping, pinching, and generally roaming; I’d expect a similar approach here, although there’s always the potential for a wrinkle or two. New signings Christ Inao Oulaï, Viery, Franco Mastantuono, and Mateo Pellegrino
are all on the bench but at least Atta, Radu Drǎgușin, João Mário, and Víctor Valdepeñas make their competitive debuts.
Benevento boss Antonio Floro Flores (who looks quite different than he did during his playing days) makes a couple changes to the group that beat Ravenna at the weekend. Goalkeeper Vanucchi is Gianmarco, not Viola loanee Tommaso, but there are some Fiorentina connections on the bench in ex-Primavera standouts Christian Dalle Mura and Edoardo Pierozzi. 17-year-old attacker Marco Giugliano gets another start on the wing ahead of some bigger names; apparently he’s impressed Floro Flores quite a bit, so keep an eye on him.
It is hot. It is humid. There are about 15,000 fans at the Franchi. It’s a beautiful Tuscan evening. In short, everything is set for a match with real implications in August, which isn’t something that ought to happen but is happening anyway. Welcome back, everybody.
Lineups
Fiorentina (4-4-2): de Gea; Valdepeñas, Ranieri, Drǎgușin, João Mário; Atta, Fagioli, Brescianini, Ndour; Kean, Guðmundsson
Benevento (4-2-3-1): Vannucchi; Beruatto, Caldirola, Scognamillo, Sernicola; Prisco, Maita; Giugliano, Talia, Lamesta; Salvemini
How to watch
Check the safe, reliable, and legal options here for streaming and TV. Any requests for or links to illegal streams will get you banned. We’ll be posting live updates on Twitter if that’s your thing. Otherwise, keep it in the comments for the usual mix of wailing and gnashing of teeth with the best damn sports community on the internet.
Forza Viola!
