Fiorentina vs Sassuolo: prediction, H2H and probable lineups — 26.04.2026
One of the key fixtures of the upcoming Serie A round will take place on Sunday at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, where the local side Fiorentina will host Sassuolo. For the hosts, this is a golden opportunity to all but secure their Serie A status, while the visitors arrive with their own ambitions—cementing a place in the top half of the table after a successful return to the elite.
Match preview
Fiorentina are gradually regaining their composure after a tough spell this season. In the previous round, Paolo Vanoli’s men let a lead slip away at Lecce, but the 1-1 draw still earned them a vital point: their unbeaten streak in Serie A now stretches to six matches, and the gap from the relegation zone remains comfortable.
That said, the Viola are still waiting for consistent contributions from Moise Kean, who continues his battle for peak form. However, the workload is now being shared: Fiorentina’s last eight Serie A goals have been scored by eight different players, and Jack Harrison, after a stunning strike in Lecce, has shown he can be a key attacking factor.
Sassuolo are enjoying a much more assured campaign than typically expected from a newly promoted side. Under Fabio Grosso, they’ve already collected 45 points from 33 games, are sitting comfortably mid-table, and after a 2-1 home win over Como, still have a genuine shot at finishing in the top 10.
The main issue for the Neroverdi is their vulnerability in the opening stages. Sassuolo have conceded more goals in the first 15 minutes than any other team in the league, and in each of their last six matches, they’ve allowed their opponents to score before the break - a potentially critical flaw against a motivated Fiorentina at the Franchi.
Probable lineups
- Fiorentina: De Gea, Dodo, Rugani, Ranieri, Balbo, N'Dour, Fagioli, Mandragora, Harrison, Piccoli, Gudmundsson.
- Sassuolo: Muric, Walukiewicz, Muharemovic, Idzes, Doig, Kone, Matic, Thorstvedt, Volpato, Pinamonti, Laurienté.
Match facts and H2H
- Fiorentina are unbeaten in six consecutive Serie A matches and drew 1-1 with Lecce in the previous round.
- Sassuolo won the first head-to-head of the season 3-1 and currently lead Fiorentina by nine points in the table.
- The visitors have conceded before halftime in each of their last six league games.
Prediction
Fiorentina enter this clash with clear motivation: a win would virtually guarantee safety and allow the team to cruise through the final stretch of the season. The Viola haven’t lost at home in the league for a while, and the recent victory over Lazio showed that Vanoli’s side is rediscovering its fighting spirit at the Artemio Franchi. Sassuolo, under Grosso, are well-organised and dangerous in transitions, but their early-match frailties and the absence of suspended Domenico Berardi limit their attacking options. Expect a competitive match with chances for both teams, but home advantage and stronger motivation should tip the scales in Fiorentina’s favour.
