Fiorentina vs PAOK Salonika preview - Fiorentina eye place in next round

Posted Thursday, November 06, 2014 by PA

Fiorentina have the chance to qualify from the group stages of the Europa League if they can continue their perfect record against PAOK Salonika on Thursday.

The Florence side have won three from three so far in Group K, scoring seven goals and conceding none in the process.

Any kind of win against their Greek opponents will get them through to the next round with two games to spare.

The odds are stacked in La Viola's favour, too. They have won their last seven home games in European competition, while PAOK are goal-shy on their travels and have not won or scored in their last three games outside of Greece.

Coach Vincenzo Montella told Corriera dello Sport: "We have an important opportunity. We can take advantage of the situation to focus totally on the league (afterwards)."

Fiorentina will be without injured striker Giuseppe Rossi, while this week they lost Federico Bernardeschi, the Italy under-21 forward, to an ankle injury until early in the new year at least.

But fellow frontman Mario Gomez could be ready to play some part, having returned from a thigh injury against Sampdoria at the weekend.

Montella said of the Germany international: "He is not yet ready for 90 minutes, but the temptation is so great. I will see how he is after training."

PAOK, five points clear at the top of the Greek Superleague, are waiting on the fitness of Dimitris Papadopoulos.

The Greece striker sat out Wednesday's training session with a calf problem. Giorgos Tzavellas (groin) was also absent but is expected to be able to play, although there are doubts over fellow defender Giannis Skondras and midfielder Ergys Kace.