Both warming up for a long season ahead, Nottingham Forest and Fiorentina will meet at the City Ground on Tuesday evening.
Within two weeks of starting another Premier League campaign, Forest play their penultimate friendly, while the Viola continue a brief English tour.
Match preview
Still seeking their first win of pre-season, Nottingham Forest's preparations for 2025-26 have not produced a morale-boosting victory so far, following five warm-up games without success.
As well as goalless draws with Chesterfield, Monaco and Estoril, Nuno Espirito Santo's side have been beaten by Fulham and Birmingham City, scoring just one goal.
The Tricky Trees - currently awaiting the outcome of Crystal Palace's appeal - will either participate in the Europa or Conference League and have been busy in the transfer market, but Nuno still requires more firepower.
Facing several extra games in midweek, Forest have a tough challenge ahead, starting with their Premier League opener against Brentford on August 17.
First, the Midlands club must host Fiorentina and Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah at the City Ground, where their fans will hope to see an overdue win.
Fiorentina's Moise Kean pictured in April 2025
After a late-season dip saw Fiorentina slump out of contention in Italy's frantic race for fourth place, the Tuscan club's board soon acted to replace head coach Raffaele Palladino.
Less than one year after his arrival, the ex-Monza boss made way for vastly experienced manager Stefano Pioli, who returns for his second spell at Stadio Franchi.
Following a Scudetto-winning stay at AC Milan, Pioli was less successful with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, so he will be keen to make an impact on his return to Serie A.
Last month's warm-up wins over Grosseto and Carrarese built confidence in the camp before Fiorentina set off for England, where they started a quick tour by losing 2-0 to Leicester City on Sunday.
Next, the Viola will face Nottingham Forest and then Manchester United, ahead of their first league fixture in Cagliari on August 24.
Having scraped into sixth place last term, booking a fourth straight Conference League campaign, Fiorentina could meet Forest again in Europe - pending Palace's appeal - but building form and fitness will be their main aim on Tuesday.
Nottingham Forest pre-season form: D D L D L
Fiorentina pre-season form: W W L
Team News
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White pictured on May 18, 2025
Nottingham Forest are still without long-term absentee Nicolas Dominguez, but Taiwo Awoniyi has completed his comeback from an abdominal injury and could be given more minutes in midweek, as Nuno continues to rotate his resources.
Summer signing Igor Jesus will vie with Awoniyi and Chris Wood to start up front, while fellow new boys Jair Cunha and Dan Ndoye could also feature.
Acquired to replace Anthony Elanga, Ndoye only joined from Bologna last week so is behind in terms of match-fitness. After starting against Birmingham City, the Swiss winger should make another appearance; Serbian centre-back Nikola Milenkovic is set to meet his old club.
While Forest have so far hung on to Morgan Gibbs-White, Fiorentina's main man Moise Kean remains in Florence for now. Following an impressive 2024-25 campaign, the Italy forward scored both goals in a recent 2-0 friendly win over Carrarese, spearheading Stefano Pioli's 3-4-2-1 formation.
Kean once played for Everton, Pablo Mari represented Arsenal, while Edin Dzeko and David De Gea - former residents of Manchester - are also set to play a part on their return to English soil.
After fielding a weakened lineup against Leicester, the Viola should start a strong XI in Nottingham. Only ACL victim Christian Kouame is injured, as Albert Gudmundsson recently returned to full training; Jonathan Ikone, M'Bala Nzola, Antonin Barak and Riccardo Sottil were left back in Italy, awaiting a potential exit.
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup: Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Richards; Yates, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Fiorentina possible starting lineup: De Gea; Comuzzo, Mari, Ranieri; Dodo, Fagioli, Richardson, Gosens; Sabiri, Fazzini; Kean
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We say: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Fiorentina
Forest are due some pre-season success, and it may finally come at home to hit-and-miss Fiorentina.
The Viola are still finding their feet under new management, so Nuno's settled side can sneak a close-fought win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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