Roma v Fiorentina: Three opposition players to watch

Wayne Girard picks out three opposition players we’ll need to keep an eye on…

Nikola Kalinic

With 11 goals and three assists already this season, the Croatian striker can’t be ignored. Measuring in at 1.87m, Kalinic is a centre forward who is not just strong in the air but also possesses the tactical awareness to slip past the last defender. Having scored three against Inter Milan in the early weeks of the season, he has scored only once in the last 11 matches but Roma’s defence must be on guard if they are to stop him from recapturing the form that terrorised Serie A defenders during the first half of the season.

Gonzalo Rodriguez

Rodriguez’s defensive stats this season make for impressive reading - winning 23 tackles this, making 63 interceptions, 123 clearances and 14 blocks in 25 appearances. At 31 years of age, he appears to be at the top of his game - even making the score sheet three times this season – and having made the most tackles (3) for Fiorentina in the reverse fixture, he will be determined to come away with a best result this time.

Borja Valero

Valero has been Fiorentina’s most influential midfielder this season - scoring four goals, creating 56 chances and laying on five assists so far. Valero has also made 1,421 passes with an accuracy rate of 89%, of which 66% were forward passes. A strong, physical player - Roma will look to minimise the midfielder’s influence on Friday night.