Fiorentina vs Chievo preview - Rossi feeling the heat

Fiorentina host Chievo on Sunday with coach Delio Rossi desperate for a victory to try and relieve some of the pressure mounting on his shoulders.

The Viola have clinched just one victory in their previous eight games.

Fiorentina looked to be heading for their ninth win of the campaign last weekend at Genoa only to give away a late Rodrigo Palacio equaliser to have to settle for a 2-2 draw.

The result dropped Fiorentina to 15th place, six points clear of the relegation zone, and piled further pressure on Rossi.

"You cannot afford to give away points as we did in Genoa," Rossi said.

"I'm disappointed as we had our chances to kill the game off but instead we allowed Genoa to come back and punish us at the end.

"We need to play better, starting against Chievo."

The atmosphere is certainly more relaxed in the Chievo camp despite the Flying Donkeys having won just one of their last four games.

After an impressive run that had seen Chievo take seven points of a possible nine, the men from Verona have lost their winning touch in recent weeks.

Chievo have yet to assure themselves of Serie A safety and last weekend's 1-1 draw against Siena left them in 12th place, three points clear of Fiorentina.

Chievo striker Alberto Paloschi knows his team cannot afford to lose concentration as the season enters its final nine weeks.

"There is still uncertainty regarding the standings and there are so many teams that are fighting to avoid the drop," he said.

"We have to take it one game at a time.

"We know that Fiorentina, like us, are hungry for points but we will go to Florence determined to bring home maximum points."

Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo will be without suspended midfielder Paolo Sammarco.

Moreover, striker Davide Moscardelli was injured last weekend and is out for the rest of the season with a torn tendon in his left thigh.