Fiorentina vs Cagliari preview - Behrami seeks positive ending

Fiorentina striker Valon Behrami admits he and his team-mates will be eager to forget a season in which hardly anything has gone right.

The Viola host Cagliari on Sunday Florence having retained their Serie A status with just one game to spare.

Last weekend's 1-0 triumph at Lecce lifted the Viola to 13th place, nine points clear of the relegation zone.

The result handed coach Vincenzo Guerini a winning start in charge of Fiorentina.

Guerini replaced Delio Rossi, who was sacked last week after hitting midfielder Adem Ljajic during his team's 2-2 draw against Novara.

"It has been a negative campaign in every sense," Behrami said. "We didn't get the results we wanted and we will finish the campaign in the second half of the standings.

"It has been a difficult few weeks for us.

"The adversity has made me grow and understand that pride is crucial. We have taken a big weight off our shoulders with the victory at Lecce.

"Now we will look to end the season in the best possible way."

Fiorentina have not won at the Artemio Franchi stadium since March 4. Since then, the Viola have mustered three points - all from draws - in their past five games at home.

Fortunately for Fiorentina, Cagliari have not won on the road since beating Catania 1-0 on December 4.

Cagliari coach Massimo Ficcadenti will be without defender Francesco Pisano and midfielder Andrea Cossu.

The two players will miss the last game of the season through suspension after picking up bookings in last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Juventus.

That result was Cagliari's second straight loss and dropped the Sardinian outfit to 16th place, three points adrift of Fiorentina.