Player Analysis: Dušan Vlahović

Throughout his coaching career, Cesare Prandelli has had an uncanny ability to get the best out of his strikers. Romanian forward Adrian Mutu starred for him at Hellas Verona, Parma, and Fiorentina, Alberto Gilardino was a prolific striker at the Ducali and the Viola, whilst Brazilian striker Adriano made his career breakthrough under the Orzinuovi native at Parma before rejoining Inter in 2004.

When Prandelli coached the Italian national team, Giuseppe Rossi played some of his best football before one of many knee injuries hampered his career and the enigmatic duo of Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli also thrived under his tutelage.

The 63-year-old has replaced Giuseppe Iachini at Fiorentina, returning for a second stint as Gigliati coach, and he has to work with young strikers Dušan Vlahović, Patrick Cutrone, and Christian Kouamé. With the lack of a proven center-forward, Prandelli decided to put his faith in the 20-year-old Serbian, and the youngster has rewarded the coach for his faith, scoring three goals in his last three league appearances.

Although Vlahović has scored two of those goals from the penalty spot, this is a time in his career in which he needs to be finding the back of the net in any manner possible. In previous games with the Viola, the Serbian seemed to be a dejected figure, who would squander scoring chances aplenty.