Udinese vs Fiorentina

Fiorentina head to Udinese for their final Serie A match this Sunday, aiming to secure a spot in next season’s Conference League.

La Viola still have a slim chance of qualifying for the Conference League for the fourth consecutive year, but they’ll need a favorable result elsewhere while taking care of business at the Bluenergy Stadium.

Unlike the past three seasons, Fiorentina won’t be playing in a European final this May after their Conference League semi-final loss to Real Betis. Still, they remain motivated to earn a place in the competition again.

Under Raffaele Palladino, Fiorentina have accumulated 62 points, a total that has always guaranteed European football in the past. However, even 65 points may not suffice this time, as Lazio, in sixth, need only a draw against Lecce at home to claim the final European spot.

Fiorentina hold the head-to-head edge over Lazio, so a victory combined with a Lazio defeat could see Palladino’s side clinch the spot.

Their recent 3-2 win at Bologna has kept their hopes alive, but three consecutive away losses across two competitions, including a damaging defeat at Venezia, have hurt their chances.

Udinese, meanwhile, have won three of their last six Serie A games against Fiorentina, matching their wins from the previous 17 encounters. However, they’ve been in poor form, appearing to lack motivation since pulling clear of the relegation zone in mid-March. They’ve lost seven of their last nine league matches, the worst record in Serie A during that period, and have earned just four points.

At the Bluenergy Stadium, Udinese have struggled, picking up only one point from their last four home games, including a surprising 2-1 loss to Monza, who had lost 11 straight away matches prior. Their home form against top-half teams has been particularly weak, with just eight points from nine such games in Serie A this season.