Fiorentina are the in-form in team in Europe after defeating Inter 1-0 on Saturday evening and then Cremonese in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, achieving an impressive winning streak under coach Vincenzo Italiano.
The first half of the 2022/23 campaign was underwhelming for the Gigliati, and they were as low as 14th in the Serie A table in February, but the Florentines have been in great form in all competitions since then.
As highlighted by Il Corriere dello Sport, Fiorentina have won their last nine competitive matches while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have won seven and German side Bayer Leverkusen have won six.
This winning streak started in the Conference League, a competition in which the Viola have impressed in throughout this season, and now Italiano’s squad have brought this form into Serie A as well as the Coppa Italia.
Conference League victory against Braga lays foundations
Fiorentina began their winning streak on February 23 in the play-off round of the Conference League. After smashing Braga 4-0 in the first leg, the Gigliati returned to Florence and defeated the Portuguese side 3-2 in the second leg.
In the Round of 16, the Viola won 1-0 at home against Sivasspor before smashing the Turkish side 4-1 in the return leg, and they will hope to bring that winning form into their quarter-final clash against Polish giants Lech Poznan.
Throughout this run, Fiorentina have won five matches in Serie A, starting with a 3-0 victory against Hellas Verona, and in addition to beating Inter, the Florentines have also defeated AC Milan 2-1.
Fiorentina continued that form when they beat Cremonese in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final.
Fiorentina streak justifies attacking philosophy of Italiano
It is rather fitting that Fiorentina have achieved this winning streak and have also bettered the likes of Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen.
Italiano is a coach that encourages a proactive approach to football. His Viola side always play in the 4-3-3 possession, press, monopolise possession, and look to create as many chances as possible, not too dissimilar to Guardiola at City and Xabi Alonso at Bayer.
Although the goals were at a premium early in the season, the goals are flowing in now and Fiorentina are finally raking up the wins.
