- 1 Fiorentina vs Pisa: a Tuscan derby to back up Fiorentina’s revival
- 2 Fiorentina: a deep squad and a first win that changes everything
- 3 Pisa: a brutal finish and a sluggish restart
- 4 Football prediction Fiorentina vs Pisa
- 5 First, a word on our free tips
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the visuals…
Fiorentina vs Pisa: a Tuscan derby to back up Fiorentina’s revival 
Zero points from three Serie A games, then four goals in Venice on Friday night. Fiorentina’s season turned on a dime in 90 minutes.
That turnaround has Paolo Vanoli’s name on it. He was brought back to the dugout on 7 September after Fabio Grosso was shown the door. He knows the club inside out, having already steadied the ship at the end of last season.
The Derby dell’Arno is set for Tuesday 15 September at 21:00 CEST, at the Artemio Franchi Stadium. It lands at exactly the point when momentum either sticks or slips away.
The format leaves no room for error. This Coppa Italia round is played over one leg only, with penalties straight after a draw. Extra time does not return until the semi-finals.
That changes how both benches approach it. If it’s level after 90 minutes, the takers go straight to the spot, with none of the extra 30 minutes that usually let the stronger side lean on its depth.
There’s more at stake than just progression. The winner travels to Naples in the next round, which turns this into a ticket to a much bigger night.
Pisa come in with the roles reversed. They were promoted to the top flight in 2025 after three decades of waiting, only to drop straight back down the following season and restart in Serie B.
The two clubs share a region, not a cup history: six Fiorentina wins, none for Pisa. That imbalance shapes the way this one is read.
One big unknown remains: Fiorentina will rotate, and Pisa will too. This derby will be decided by the quality of the players coming off the bench.
Fiorentina: a deep squad and a first win that changes everything 
Fiorentina’s league record before Friday was ugly enough to fit in three lines: 4-0 at Roma, 0-3 against Frosinone at the Franchi, 1-2 at home to Torino. Three defeats, no points.
The 4-2 win at the Stadio Penzo changes the picture completely. Franco Mastantuono, the Real Madrid-owned Argentine, scored a hat-trick to get Fiorentina off the mark.
Mastantuono already looks like the difference-maker in this early stretch. His treble in Venice accounts for three of the club’s five Serie A goals since the restart.
Fabio Grosso’s spell will be remembered as a brief four-game detour. Appointed in the summer after Vanoli’s contract was not renewed, he opened with a 4-1 cup win over Benevento before the league campaign collapsed.
Vanoli has inherited a group heavily reshaped since he left. Pedro Goncalves, Alieu Njie and Willy Gnonto, all signed in the 2026 summer window, were on the pitch in Venice.
That depth matters with the schedule tightening up. Changes are expected on Tuesday, with only one absentee noted: Fabiano Parisi, who has been out for a long spell.
Up front, the battle has reopened. Mateo Pellegrino has scored in his last two appearances and is pushing hard to start ahead of Beto.
History helps too. Six-time winners and runners-up in 2023, Fiorentina have no European commitments this season, which makes this cup run a real target.
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Pisa: a brutal finish and a sluggish restart 
The first round already drained plenty of energy. Held to a 1-1 draw at home by Empoli, Pisa then had to go through penalties to get rid of another regional rival.
The end of last season remains the heaviest part of their story. Nine straight defeats to close the campaign, 22 goals conceded in that run and just four points picked up between February and May.
Their 2025 return to the top flight had finally ended three decades of waiting. It only lasted one season, ending in a relegation that never really looked in doubt.
The cup has not treated them any better over time. Out in the second round last year, Pisa have never lifted this Coppa Italia.
Paolo Bianco has been brought in to get things moving again. He arrives fresh from taking Monza up through the Serie B play-offs.
The start has not exactly screamed recovery. Beaten 4-1 by Virtus Entella on Friday, Pisa already have two defeats in four outings.
That defeat came with a man down for much of the contest. Mehdi Leris was sent off before half-time, and his suspension will only apply in the league.
There is at least one positive in attack. Stefano Moreo, who scored seven Serie A goals last season, was back on the pitch on Friday and could start at the Franchi.
The projected XI also keeps plenty of experience in the side. Petagna and Moreo up front, Canestrelli in central defence: Bianco can call on players who know the level.
Probable Fiorentina XI: De Gea ; Mario, Pongracic, Ranieri, Viery ; Ndour, Oulai, Brescianini ; Goncalves, Pellegrino, Gnonto
Probable Pisa XI: Confente ; Calabresi, Canestrelli, Primasso ; Vural, Leone, Loyola, Angori ; Ferrah, Moreo ; Petagna
Football prediction Fiorentina vs Pisa
Our pick: Fiorentina to win with a -1 goal handicap
The gap in divisions is matched by a gap in squad depth, and rotation won’t close it. Even with changes, Vanoli’s team will still feature players who were in Serie A four days earlier.
Pisa arrive in the worst possible shape: a 4-1 thumping last time out, a key man sent off on Friday, and no benchmark win since the restart. The Franchi has already seen Fiorentina put four past Benevento in this competition this season.
The quality of Fiorentina’s backups should be enough to settle this derby. Fiorentina win by at least two goals.
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