[davidmphill]

Serie A Week 30 - 19/3/06 (14.00 UK)
Fiorentina - Ascoli
Stadio Franchi
After last weekend's abandoned match against Cagliari, Fiorentina will be raring to go, but if they want to take the expected three points at the Stadio Artemio Franchi they must see off an Ascoli side on unprecedented form. The Viola have surpassed all pre-season expectations and sit in fourth with 25 more points than they had at this stage of last season. However, the Gigliati have struggled a little of late and will have to dig deep to hold off Roma to ensure a Champions League place. Cesare Prandelli's men will have taken heart from Roma's shock defeat against Ascoli last weekend but the elements prevented them from cementing the advantage, they need to do that here without Capocannoniere Luca Toni who has a recurring injury. Marco Giampaolo is a candidate for Coach of the Season. The Piceni were widely tipped to make a swift return to Serie B but after a seven game unbeaten run, including last weekend's magnificent 3-2 win over Roma, they are now close to mathematical safety. Giampaolo - who lists Louis Van Gaal as a great influence - has called on his side to deliver four or five more points, but will not expect them here given that the Bianconeri have only once away from the Stadio Del Duca all season. Serie A's two most substituted men line up on opposite sides. Fiorentina's Stefano Fiore has been taken off 18 times this season; Ascoli's Pasquale Foggia is hot on his heels with 17. Prandelli welcomes back Per Kroldrup but is without Toni who now has a problem with his foot as well as his heels. Alessandro Gamberini, Guilherme Do Prado and Riccardo Montolivo are also out. The visitors make the trip west without Ivano Della Morte, Mirko Cudini, Riccardo Bonetto, Marco Ferrante and ex-Viola Daniele Adani who are injured. Andrea Parola is suspended.
Fiorentina: Lobont; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Fiore, Donadel, Brocchi, Jorgensen; Jimenez, Bojinov Ascoli: Coppola; Comotto, Domizzi, Paci, Del Grosso; Foggia, Cristiano, Parola, Fini; Quagliarella, Bjelanovic