Fiorentina vs. Roma Predictions: Two bets for this crucial Serie A clash

As well as the League One play-off 2nd leg, there is also a big game taking place in Italy on Monday evening. Fiorentina take on Roma in a Serie A clash that could decide which, if either, of these teams will qualify for European football next season. We've asked @OddsT3rrier to preview this one and he's given us his best two bets for tonight. 

Both sides enter this match stuttering in form at the crucial business end of the season. Fiorentina have lost three straight, including losses against sides in the bottom half of the table in Salernitana and Udinese, as well as an expected loss versus league leaders AC Milan. They simply have to win this match if they are to have a hope of Europa League football next term. 

Roma are three points above them but can be clawed back if they lose here at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Again, their form is mixed; after three straight wins, they've since drawn against Napoli and Bologna, with a 3-1 loss to Inter sandwiched between. Those disappointing results mean Roma cannot reach the Champions League. Of course, they had a great two-legged victory over Leicester City, to reach the Europa Conference League final, which should they win would mean Europa League qualification. 

Both sides are virtually at full strength for this one, with Roma only sweating on the fitness of Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

First up and I've gone for both teams to score. Before their last two scoreless games I Viola had scored in ten consecutive games, showing they are capable of scoring goals. Similarly, Roma have scored in ten of their last 11 games so usually get on the scoresheet. As for BTTS rank, Fiorentina are at 54% and Roma slightly lower at 51%.

The second selection is based around two Roma players - Lorenzo Pellegrini to have 1+ shot on target and Gianluca Mancini to be carded.

Pellegrini plays on the right side of a front three, slotting in just behind Tammy Abraham. The 25-year-old has scored eight goals in 24 starts this year and is 2nd in shots (76) and shots on target (26) for Roma behind only Abraham. Pellegrini has cleared this line in eight of his last 11 games and I expect him to do so here.

Mancini has picked up a team-leading 13 yellows this season, in a Roma side that has struggled for discipline under Jose Mourinho. They have picked up 103 yellow cards and eight red cards and are second in the league behind Venezia. The 26-year-old Italian international is a excellent player but walks a fine line between aggression and a booking liability. Mancini picked up 24 yellows in his previous two seasons, so this is no isolated campaign. I wouldn't be surprised to see him carded again here in such an important game.