Fiorentina Team News Page 86 - Soccer

MATCHDAY: Xavi among coaches taking 1st game in charge

Xavi Hernández makes his coaching debut at Barcelona when it hosts Espanyol in a derby at Camp Nou, while Sevilla can take the lead of the Spanish league with a win over Alavés

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 • Associated Press

Nicolas Gonzalez - Will be limited against Milan Gonzalez (COVID) will be called up for Saturday's game versus Milan, but he has practiced very little and does not have many minutes in his legs, coach Vincenzo Italiano announced.

Impact Gonzalez has dealt with the virus for nearly three weeks and is still getting up to speed from the physical standpoint. He is poised to have a small role in his first game back, so Riccardo Saponara should log another start on the left wing. He has tallied two goals, one assist, 15 shots and seven chances created in eight games (six starts).

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Matija Nastasic - Will miss extended time Nastasic has been diagnosed with a grade one/two soleus strain in the left calf, Fiorentina announced.

Impact Nastasic will sit out multiple matches and might not return in 2021 since it could take him up to six weeks to recover. He has been a backup thus far, but Fiorentina could have used in the next game given the suspensions of Lucas Martinez Quarta and Nikola Milenkovic. The coach will have to adapt somebody next to Igor, likely Lorenzo Venuti or Sofyan Amrabat.

NOVEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Youssef Maleh - Leaves national team early Maleh headed back to Florence before the second game on the schedule due to a shoulder injury, Morocco announced.

Impact Maleh reportedly picked up the problem in practice and was unavailable for the first game, but Morocco hoped he would be good to go for the second one. That was not the case and he will now be assessed by the Fiorentina doctors ahead of Saturday's home game with Milan. He generally provides depth to the midfield.

NOVEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bartlomiej Dragowski - Recovers from injury Dragowski (thigh) returned to full training this week, La Nazione reports.

Impact Dragowski sat out the most recent stretch of game with a severe thigh strain. He will be available for the Milan game, although his backup Pietro Terracciano might have performed well enough to retain the starting job. He has made 13 saves, kept one clean sheet and allowed six goals in five matches.

NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nicolas Gonzalez - Clears COVID-19 protocol Gonzalez has tested negative for Coronavirus and will now take the necessary steps to resume practicing, Fiorentina announced.

Impact Gonzalez had an extended bout with the virus since he had to isolate for 18 days. He will now undergo a routine physical and get back on the pitch. The break should allow him to have an adequate ramp-up without missing further matches.

NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Matija Nastasic - Picks up calf injury Nastasic will leave the national team because of a calf problem, coach Dragan Stojkovic announced.

Impact Nastasic picked up the injury in the friendly with Qatar and the Serbia doctors estimated that he would not have been available for the next game. He has played little so far, but Fiorentina will not have starters Nikola Milenkovic and Lucas Martinez Quarta against Milan.

NOVEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gaetano Castrovilli - Draws three fouls against Juventus Castrovilli won six duels and two of two tackles, had one interception and drew three fouls in Saturday's 0-1 loss to Juventus.

Impact Castrovilli shined on the defensive end, but he did not contribute much in the final third in this one. He has quickly reprised his significant role in the midfield after a tricky injury. He has posted one assist, six crosses, two chances created and five tackles in eight games (five starts). Fiorentina will face Milan at home after the break.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jose Callejon - Decent in Juventus clash Callejon took one off-target shot, sent in six crosses (one accurate) and created one scoring chance in Saturday's 0-1 loss to Juventus.

Impact Callejon paced his team in crosses in this one, but he was able to find a teammate just once. He was coming off his first assist of the season and will likely alternate with Riccardo Saponara and Riccardo Sottil going forward. He has posted four shots, eight chances created, 31 crosses and six tackles in 12 matches (nine starts). Fiorentina will face Milan at home after the break.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Riccardo Saponara - Delivers five crosses versus Juventus Saponara took two off-target shots, sent in four crosses, created one scoring chance and won two duels in Saturday's 0-1 loss to Juventus.

Impact Saponara was rather active but he lacked precision and Fiorentina did not manage to break through. He is bound to lose minutes once Nicolas Gonzalez shakes off COVID. Fiorentina will face Milan at home after the break.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Giacomo Bonaventura - Wins six duels against Juventus Bonaventura won two of two tackles and six duels, took one shot on target and drew two fouls in Saturday's 0-1 loss to Juventus.

Impact Bonaventura focused more on defending because of the caliber of the opponent in this one. He has not collected points in the last eight games, where he has logged seven shots, eight chances created and nine crosses. Fiorentina will face Milan at home after the break.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cristiano Biraghi - Productive again in Juventus clash Biraghi sent in 13 crosses (five accurate), created two scoring chances, drew one foul and won two duels in Saturday's 0-1 loss to Juventus.

Impact Biraghi swung in double-digit crosses for the second game in a row and posted his new season high in such category, but he remains assist-less in the campaign. Instead, he has scored once and has created at least two chances in six matches in a row. Fiorentina will face Milan at home after the break.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dusan Vlahovic - Contained by Juventus Vlahovic took two off-target shots, had one block, drew five fouls and won eight duels in Saturday's 0-1 loss to Juventus.

Impact Vlahovic held his own from the physical standpoint in this one, but he did not have many opportunities to do damage given the nature of the game. He was coming off a hat-trick. He has tallied eight goals, one assist, 38 shots and 12 chances created in 12 games. Fiorentina will face Milan at home after the break.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lucas Martinez - Suspended for next game Martinez Quarta won ten duels, had three interceptions and four clearances and picked up his fifth yellow card in Saturday's 0-1 loss to Juventus.

Impact Martinez Quarta had a strong outing and piled up stats, but Juventus broke through late and he will be forced to miss one game due to yellow-card accumulation. Fiorentina will be down both starters versus Milan in two weeks, so backups Igor and Matija Nastasic will likely both the nod.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pietro Terracciano - Concedes once against Juventus Terracciano had two saves, one clearance and one punch and gave up one goal in Saturday's 0-1 loss to Juventus.

Impact Terracciano had some strong interventions but he was beaten on his own post by a close-range effort from angled position by Juan Cuadrado late in the game. He has allowed eight goals, made 12 saves and kept two clean sheets in eight matches. It is possible that Bartlomiej Dragowski returns in time for the Milan clash coming up in two weeks.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Juventus beats Fiorentina 1-0 on Cuadrado stoppage-time goal

Juan Cuadrado’s stoppage-time goal has given Juventus a 1-0 victory against 10-man Fiorentina and has ended a three-game winless streak in Serie A

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • Associated Press

Nikola Milenkovic - Sent off against Juventus Milenkovic had five clearances and one block, won one of two tackles and picked up two yellow cards in Saturday's 0-1 loss to Juventus.

Impact Milenkovic had a solid display for about an hour, but then he was booked twice in short order. He will have to sit out the Milan game after the break. Matija Nastasic and Igor are the next men up in the defense.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

MATCHDAY: Manchester derby on tap, Messi to miss PSG game

Defending Premier League champion Manchester City visits Old Trafford and hopes to contain Cristiano Ronaldo

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 • Associated Press

Jose Callejon - Provides assist against Spezia Callejon created one chance and set up a goal in Sunday's 3-0 win over Spezia.

Impact Callejon replaced Riccardo Sottil on 68 minutes then assisted Dusan Vlahovic's third goal of the match. It's his first assist of the season. After starting last match he found himself relegated to the bench but was able to produce when called upon. He'll hope to have a starting role on November 6 against Juventus next.

NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Alvaro Odriozola - Sets up goal as a sub Odriozola took one shot (zero on target), created a chance and provided an assist in Sunday's 3-0 win against Spezia.

Impact Odriozola came on for Lorenzo Venuti in the 60th minute and set up Dusan Vlahovic's second goal. It's his first assist of the season. He has only started four matches this season and second choice to Venuti so far but may see more opportunities having produced an assist. His next chance to make the starting XI comes on November 6 against Juventus.

NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pietro Terracciano - Keeps clean sheet against Spezia Terracciano made one clearance and kept a clean sheet in Sunday's 3-0 win over Spezia.

Impact Terracciano had very little to do in the match and only made one clearance in his second clean sheet of the season. He now has 10 saves with seven goals allowed this term. He faces a tough away match next against Juventus on November 6.

NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cristiano Biraghi - Delivers 10 crosses against Spezia Biraghi took two shots (zero on target), delivered 10 crosses (five accurate) and created four chances in Sunday's 3-0 win over Spezia.

Impact Biraghi led his side in chances created (4) and corners taken (5). He's the primary set piece taker and added another seven shots or crosses from set pieces on Sunday. He has one goal this season but has yet to register an assist. His next match is on November 6 away to Juventus.

NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Giacomo Bonaventura - Creates three chances in win Bonaventura took one shot (zero on target), delivered three crosses (one accurate) and created three chances in Sunday's 3-0 victory against Spezia.

Impact Bonaventura was a creative threat all match, created three chances and getting one shot away. He has one goal and two assists this campaign, though he hasn't found the scoresheet since September 18. He faces Juventus next on November 6.

NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dusan Vlahovic - Scores hat-trick against Spezia Vlahovic took six shots (six on target), created three chances and scored three goals in Sunday's 3-0 win over Spezia.

Impact Vlahovic got back to scoring ways, notching all three goals in the match. He now has eight goals with one assist this season. He'll hope to continue his scoring form, although he faces a tough match up against Juventus on November 6 next.

NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Messi called up for Argentina qualifiers despite injury

Lionel Messi was included in the Argentina squad for two upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil despite having struggled with a knee injury in recent weeks

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • Associated Press

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MATCHDAY: Xavi among coaches taking 1st game in charge

Juventus beats Fiorentina 1-0 on Cuadrado stoppage-time goal

MATCHDAY: Manchester derby on tap, Messi to miss PSG game

Messi called up for Argentina qualifiers despite injury