Fiorentina vs AS Roma preveiw - Montella praise for Roma

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has showered former club Roma with praise but insists his team can beat them on Saturday at the Artemio Franchi Stadium.

The Viola have lost all of their league games against Roma under Montella, who joined Fiorentina in the summer of 2012.

Montella played 10 seasons for the Giallorossi and temporarily coached them in 2011.

"It must mean that I still love them," Montella joked regarding his poor record against Roma in Friday's press conference. "I remember every game we have played against them.

"We deserved to lose our last one but with regards to our previous encounters, we played much better and deserved victory.

"I expect my team to go out determined to win until the end, playing as we know how."

Roma cannot afford anything but three points if they are to remain in the scudetto race.

The Giallorossi have won seven straight games and are second in the standings, eight points behind Serie A leaders Juventus with five games remaining.

"They've had an extraordinary campaign," Montella said. "Roma are the best team when it comes to reading tactics during a game.

"They have a very good coach (Rudi Garcia), who has brought a lot of balance and has the group behind him."

Fiorentina go into the encounter on the back of 5-3 triumph at Hellas Verona.

That win followed the Viola's 2-1 triumph over Udinese and kept them in fourth place, five points clear of nearest rivals Inter Milan.

Roma are taking nothing for granted and expect to be tested in Florence.

"We are playing against a very good side," Garcia said. "It seems a very difficult game on paper and it will be."

Roma are still without their team's top scorer Mattia Destro, who will serve his second of a four-match ban this weekend.

Destro struck the winner for a 2-1 win over Fiorentina earlier this season.

However, Garcia's side will be bolstered by the return of midfielder pair Alessandro Florenzi and Miralem Pjanic from suspension.

The hosts are hoping to recover veteran midfielder Massimo Ambrosini, who is doubtful with a muscular problem.