On Sunday, November 24th, Claudio Ranieri debuted as Roma’s coach, experiencing a narrow defeat against Napoli away. On the same day, Fiorentina defeated Como 2-0 and, capitalizing on Roma’s disastrous start to the season, climbed to a 15-point lead in the standings. The gap widened further in the following matchday: Roma lost to Atalanta, while Fiorentina did not play against Inter due to Bove’s illness, a game they later won, adding another three points in the period under examination. A virtual +18 points in the standings.
Today, the standings show that Roma has one point more than Fiorentina, 46 against 45, having just overtaken them in seventh place. In just over three months (although the gap remained the same from the end of November to mid-December, with Roma’s 0-2 defeat to Como), Fiorentina has lost a significant 16 points to Roma, who, in that period, have been one of the best teams in the league along with Inter, despite playing one game less if we start counting from December 8th.
In detail:
Matchday 15: Roma-Lecce 4-1 and Fiorentina-Cagliari 1-0 (-15)
Matchday 16: Como-Roma 2-0 and Bologna-Fiorentina 1-0 (as above)
Matchday 17: Roma-Parma 5-0 and Fiorentina-Udinese 1-2 (-12)
Matchday 18: Milan-Roma 1-1 and Juventus-Fiorentina 2-2 (as above)
Matchday 19: Roma-Lazio 2-0 and Fiorentina-Napoli 0-3 (-9)
Matchday 20: Bologna-Roma 2-2 and Monza-Fiorentina 2-1 (-8)
Matchday 21: Roma-Genoa 3-1 and Fiorentina-Torino 1-1 (-6)
Matchday 22: Udinese-Roma 1-2 and Lazio-Fiorentina 1-2 (as above)
Matchday 23: Roma-Napoli 1-1 and Fiorentina-Genoa 2-1 (-8; in the meantime, Fiorentina-Inter 3-0 was played as a postponed match, therefore -11)
Matchday 24: Venezia-Roma 0-1 and Inter-Fiorentina 2-1 (-8)
Matchday 25: Parma-Roma 0-1 and Fiorentina-Como 0-2 (-5)
Matchday 26: Roma-Monza 4-0 and Verona-Fiorentina 1-0 (-2)
Matchday 27: Roma-Como 2-1 and Fiorentina-Lecce 1-0 (as above)
Matchday 28: Empoli-Roma 0-1 and Napoli-Fiorentina 2-1 (+1)
PALLADINO AT RISK? – Currently, Fiorentina is not indicating any intention to take immediate action. However, the return leg of the Conference League round of 16 against Panathinaikos, with a 3-2 deficit from the first leg to overturn, takes on significant importance. Especially with the international break approaching and the big match against Juventus as the last commitment before the break.