Fiorentina return to Turin today for a second meeting with Juventus in the space of five days to play the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

The Florence outfit fought hard but lost 1-0 to Juve in Serie A on Sunday to fall 10 points behind Napoli in the race for Champions League football next season.

“I want my team to pick up where they left off in the second half against Juventus on Sunday,” Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella said.

“I was satisfied with my team’s performance and we have to have confidence in view of the Europa League match. Juventus are strong but I think we can have a say.”

The Viola have been a force in Italy this season and can approach the tie with confidence as they are the only side to have beaten Juve in Serie A, a 4-2 triumph in October, while they have reached the Coppa Italia final.

In the Europa League, Montella’s team topped Group E before dumping out Esbjerg in the last 32.

“I expect a battling Fiorentina,” Juventus coach Antonio Conte said. “They will be determined to progress in the competition because they have little to play for in Serie A while we, in contrast, have a third straight Scudetto to work for.

“Fiorentina will try to put all that they have into this competition.”

Elsewhere, Porto interim manager Luis Castro faces his first major test in today’s match against Napoli.

Castro was promoted from the B team to replace Paulo Fonseca, who was sacked last week.

The 52-year-old guided the Dragoes to a 4-1 victory over Arouca on Sunday in his first game in charge.

“I know this job carries a lot of responsibility,” Castro said.

“But we want to end the season in the best possible way and try to win titles.”

The Italians travel to the Estadio do Dragao on the back of Sunday’s 1-0 triumph over Roma.

Despite the high spirits in the Napoli camp, coach Rafa Benitez has warned his players to brace themselves for a difficult tie.

“Porto are a strong team,” he said. “The atmosphere will be very difficult to deal with when we go to their stadium, it will be tough.”

Last 16, first legs

Basel vs Salzburg - 19.00
Porto vs Napoli - 19.00
Ludogorets vs Valencia - 19.00
Alkmaar vs Anzhi - 21.05
Juventus vs Fiorentina - 21.05
Lyon vs Viktoria Plzen - 21.05
Sevilla vs Real Betis - 21.05
Tottenham vs Benfica - 21.05

Second legs: March 20

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