Depleted Fiorentina looking to qualify

A depleted Fiorentina will be trying to secure their place in the Champions League knock-out rounds when they host Lyon in Group E on Tuesday.

Lyon’s last gasp 1-1 home draw with Liverpool three weeks ago ensured their name will be in the draw for the second round while Fiorentina’s three straight wins in the group have also put them on the brink of qualifying.

They have two more games to play and hence two chances to qualify, starting with Tuesday’s match at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

If Fiorentina win they are through. But if Liverpool win in Debrecen, a draw would mean Fiorentina needing a better result than a 2-0 defeat in their final group game in Liverpool in two weeks.

But if they lose to Lyon and Liverpool win, they will need a draw at Anfield.

The Italians have been severely weakened by injury as Romania captain Adrian Mutu and Italy centre-back Alessandro Gamberini, two lynchpins of the team, are definitely out.

With coach Cesare Prandelli’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation Mutu can be replaced in the middle of the three attacking midfielders by Montenegro youngster Stevan Jovetic, the inspiration behind Fiorentina’s 2-0 win over Liverpool.

But Jovetic has a foot problem and is rated as highly doubtful for Tuesday, which would leave Fiorentina short in the creativity department.

And although Fiorentina have won three Champions League games in a row, they have only two successes in seven league matches, hardly the ideal form.

Lyon’s is little better, though, as they have won only one in their last five league encounters.

But with Fiorentina dropping out of the top four in Serie A following Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat to Parma, Prandelli knows their season could be resting on this game.

“We don’t have time for recriminations (from the Parma match) because Tuesday’s match is the most important of the season,” he said.

“We must not suffer a psychological blow. Our season may depend on Tuesday and I’m sure that whoever goes onto the pitch will be more careful and concentrated (than against Parma).

“I’m sure that we’ll play a great match. The lads just need to feel our trust and not let their confidence drop.”