Fiorentina vs Roma: Pioli’s Fight to End Winless Run in Serie A Showdown

When Stefano Pioli, head coach of Fiorentina, stepped onto the pitch at Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence on Sunday, October 5, 2025, the stakes felt higher than the usual Sunday afternoon clash. Across the field, Artem Dovbyk of AS Roma was warming up, aware that his side entered the 6th round of the Serie A in a very different mood. Pioli’s Viola had scraped together a paltry three points from five games, while Roma rode a four‑win streak that left them nine points clear in the table. Add to that the recent European drama – a 2‑0 Conference League win for Fiorentina against Sigma Olomouc and a 1‑0 Europa League loss for Roma at the hands of LOSC Lille – and you’ve got a match that could reshape both campaigns.

Season Context for Both Clubs

Fiorentina’s early season has been a textbook nightmare. After opening the campaign with a 2‑2 draw at home, they fell to a 1‑0 defeat in Milan, then a 3‑1 loss in Turin, followed by a 2‑0 defeat in Naples before settling for a goalless stalemate against newly‑promoted Pisa. The club has not recorded a Serie A win since the first matchday, a drought not seen since the 1976‑77 season. Their home record is equally bleak – zero points earned at the Artemio Franchi Stadium before this encounter.

Roma, by contrast, have been the toast of Italian football this autumn. A 4‑0 thrashing of Juventus, a 2‑1 win over Lazio, and a 2‑0 triumph at Hellas Verona are just a few highlights. The Giallorossi’s only hiccup has been a 1‑0 Europa League loss to Berke Ozer, goalkeeper of LOSC Lille, who turned aside three penalties in a dramatic French showdown. That loss snapped a three‑game winning run across all competitions but left Roma still perched near the top of the standings.

Recent Form and Key Performances

Fiorentina’s freshest spark came in the Conference League. Roberto Piccoli, a 22‑year‑old forward, opened the scoring against Sigma Olomouc in the 27th minute, while teenage talent Cher Ndour added a stoppage‑time goal to seal a 2‑0 win. Those two strikes marked the first goals for the Viola in any competition this season and hinted at a potential resurgence.

Roma’s key contributors have been more consistent. Dovbyk, who netted the seventh‑minute opener against Hellas Verona, has now scored three league goals and boasts a 0.31 goals‑per‑game ratio. His partner, Matías Soulé, supplied the second goal in that Verona match and continues to drive the team’s attacking tempo from the wing.

Both squads have also suffered setbacks. Fiorentina’s midfield has struggled to turn possession into chance – they managed a 61 % share against Pisa but mustered only two shots on target. Roma, on the other hand, have seen their defensive line wobble in European play, conceding a solitary goal that proved enough to lose to Lille.

Head‑to‑Head History and Recent Encounters

The rivalry between the two central‑Italian clubs is as old as Serie A itself. Over 197 meetings across all competitions, Roma sit ahead with 69 victories, Fiorentina with 60 and 68 draws. In the last 42 Serie A confrontations, Roma have triumphed 23 times, Fiorentina 11, and eight games ended level.

What’s interesting for this preview, however, is the recent balance of power at the Artemio Franchi. Fiorentina have won three of their last four home matches against Roma, including a 5‑1 demolition last season. That pattern suggests a psychological edge when the Viola host, even if the broader statistical record favours the capital side.

Match Preview: Stakes, Tactics, and Potential Line‑ups

Pioli is expected to line up a 4‑3‑3, with Piccoli leading the line and Ndour pulling wide. A double‑pivot in midfield – likely featuring Andrea Accardi and Nikola Milenković – should aim to disrupt Roma’s rhythm and protect a fragile back line.

Roma’s manager, José Luis López, will probably stick with his successful 3‑4‑3 set‑up that has yielded four wins. Dovbyk is the obvious striker, flanked by Soulé on the left and Filip Čurić on the right. The midfield trio – likely Jordan Veretout, Dennis Carlucci, and Lorenzo Pellegrini – will look to dominate possession and feed the forwards.

Both coaches know the importance of set‑pieces. Fiorentina’s height advantage in aerial duels could be a game‑changer on corners, while Roma’s quick‑transition style may exploit any space left behind the Viola’s advancing full‑backs.

Potential Outcomes and Betting Landscape

Betting markets have slotted the fixture as a low‑scoring affair. The under‑2.5 goals line is the favourite, and many analysts peg a 1‑1 draw as the most likely result. That projection aligns with the teams’ recent defensive solidity – Fiorentina have kept three clean sheets in five matches, and Roma have conceded just two league goals in their last four games.

However, there are reasons to doubt a dull finish. Piccoli’s confidence after his Conference League strike could translate into a breakthrough in Serie A. Conversely, Roma’s Dovbyk is riding a personal scoring streak that could see him back‑hand the ball into the net again. If either side manages to attack the opponent’s box early, the odds could swing dramatically.

From a broader perspective, a win for Fiorentina would close the nine‑point gap that currently separates the two clubs, not only lifting the morale of a squad that has not won in the league this season but also nudging them back into the mid‑table safety zone. For Roma, a victory would reaffirm their push toward the top‑four and help them rebound from the Lille disappointment, keeping them comfortably ahead of the chase for a European spot.

What’s Next After the Match?

Should Fiorentina finally notch a league win, Pioli will have bought himself some breathing room and possibly a stronger negotiating position in the upcoming January transfer window. The club could look to reinforce the defense – perhaps targeting a seasoned centre‑back from a lower‑tier Serie A side.

If Roma secure three points, they’ll likely maintain their aggressive recruitment strategy, eyeing a winter addition in the creative midfield department to keep the pressure on Juventus and Inter for the Champions League spots.