It will be an interesting case of déjà vu as Fiorentina and Tottenham meet up for the second consecutive season in the Europa League round of 32. And the visitors, who have been excellent in the Premier League this campaign, will be keen on getting revenge on the Italian side for ending their European dreams at this same juncture last term. Meanwhile, the hosts, who made it all the way to the semi-finals in the 2014/2015 edition, will be hoping to go one step further this time around.
Fiorentina
Fiorentina will be coming into this match having beaten Inter 2-1 to reclaim third place in Serie A. After a difficult November and December, the Viola finally appear to have gotten back on track and are currently unbeaten in their last five league games. Although they are no longer in the running for the Scudetto - the race having now become a two-way affair between Juventus and Napoli - Paulo Sousa's men are still in contention to win some silverware this season and will be relying on their good form against English sides to see them through to the next round.
Last season, Fiorentina defeated Tottenham 2-0 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi after drawing 1-1 with the London-based side at White Hart Lane. Overall, the Viola have a solid record when it comes to taking on Premier League sides: out of their last five matches, the Tuscan side have won four and drawn one. More impressive is the fact that they have not conceded a goal in their past five games at home versus English opposition.
That record, however, will be put under heavy scrutiny as they will be facing a Tottenham side enjoying arguably their best domestic campaign in the past few seasons. With the exception of the still-injured Milan Badelj, Sousa will have his pick of his preferred starting XI for the first leg of this match.
Tottenham
Last Sunday, Premier League fans were in for a treat, as the top four sides - Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester City - faced off on the same day for only the sixth time in history. And Mauricio Pochettino's men took one step closer towards the coveted title this May by powering past Manchester City 2-1 to consolidate second place. With Leicester losing to Arsenal, Spurs are only two points behind this season's surprise leaders and could possibly overtake the Foxes should they beat Swansea this weekend.
But with that not taking place until Sunday, Tottenham will have to turn their attention towards a re-match with Fiorentina. Like, the Viola, Spurs are currently unbeaten in their last five games, but unlike the Italian side, who have drawn two of this matches, Pochettino's squad have picked up all 15 points and are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
However, they have not had much luck when it comes to facing Italian sides on their opponents' home turf. This will be their fourteenth European meeting with a Serie A team, and their overall record currently stands as four wins, five draws, and four losses - with all of their defeats taking place in Italy. The last - and only time - they have been able to beat an Italian team in Italy was on February 15, 2011, during the Champions League round of 16 in which a Peter Crouch goal was enough to down AC Milan 1-0.
Still, given that they boast the second-best attack and the strongest defense in the Premier League, Tottenham are indeed a side to be reckoned with and will definitely present a tough opponent for Fiorentina, despite the absence of some important players. Pochettino will have to make do without first-choice keeper Hugo Lloris as well as Jan Vertonghen and Clinton N'Jie due to injury. And given that Spurs are firmly in the title race, the Argentinian tactician will have to decide how to effectively rotate his squad whilst still remaining competitive for tomorrow's match.
Which channel is broadcasting Fiorentina vs Tottenham on TV or Online?
Tottenham have been flying high in the Premier League this season and will be feeling confident after defeating Manchester City last weekend. However, Fiorentina will also be fancying their own chances following a hard-fought win over Inter, setting the stage for what should be an entertaining clash at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
However, if you are too far away to make it person, no worries. LiveSoccerTV.com has plenty of options to catch the Viola taking on Spurs via your TV, computer, tablet, or phone. Here are some selections for fans residing elsewhere in Italy and in the following countries:
- In the USA at 13.00 EST on: Fox Soccer 2GO USA, ESPN3 USA, WATCH ESPN, ESPN Deportes+, Fox Soccer Plus
- In Italy at 19.00 CET on: MTV8, Sky Calcio 2, Sky Sport 3 HD Italia
- In the UK at 18.00 GMT on: BT Sport Europe, BT Sport Live Streaming
- In Canada at 13.00 ET: beIN SPORTS CONNECT Canada, beIN Sports Canada
Live elsewhere? Check out our special Fiorentina vs Tottenham broadcast page for viewing times and options for wherever you are currently based.
*Note: Live broadcast data is subject to change*
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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