- Home form: Fiorentina are undefeated at home in all competitions, winning 1 and drawing 4 in 5 games, and have conceded only 2 goals in that time.
- Away form: Benevento arrive unbeaten in 5, winning 3 and drawing 2. They have scored 1.80 goals per game and conceded just 1.20 goals per road game.
- Key players: Roberto Piccoli has been Fiorentina's main goal threat, bagging 3 of their 7 goals in the last 5 games, whilst Davide Lamesta has scored 4 of Benevento's 12 goals in the same period.
Tempo clash of the Titans
Odds and form
AC Fiorentina are the clear favorites for Friday's game with Benevento, priced 1.26 and with the draw at 5.3 for this Coppa Italia clash. Fiorentina have been solid but have lacked an edge across the past 10 games, winning 3, drawing 5 and losing 2.
Recent results
They beat Watford 1-0 away last time out, prior to that they drew 2-2 away to Real Madrid in a tight game and 1-1 at home to Deportivo La Coruna, so it's fair to say that Fiorentina have been tough to beat but not exactly ruthless.
Tactics
Fabio Grosso has set them up in a 4-3-3, and they play a high pressing game and look to have the width to pin opponents back on their own half, it should be interesting to see if this is a stroll or not.
Benevento won’t lie down
Benevento have been on a better run of late, winning 4 and drawing 4 of their last 10 across all competitions, and they arrive at Artemio Franchi unbeaten in 5, having drawn 2-2 away at Frosinone in their last away game, and prior to that winning 5-3 at home to Ravenna Calcio in the Coppa Italia.
- They don't play the same brand of soccer as Fiorentina, Andrea Agostinelli is more pragmatic and will set his men up to keep their shape before breaking quickly and directly into the game.
- It's a clash of styles between the high press of Fiorentina and the compactness of Benevento, and the tempo of the game may well decide this matchup.
Fiorentina can get it done
The Viola are clearly a stronger side and should win this game, but Benevento's solid run of form and directness at the other end make this feel a little more like a real cup match, rather than a stroll. Both Teams To Score: No at 1.65 looks a sharp selection for a game where Fiorentina will dominate home field.
