As Serie A’s Round 26 draws to a close, all eyes turn to Florence for a tense relegation showdown between Fiorentina and Pisa at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2026, this match is shaping up as a true six-pointer—a phrase football fans know all too well when the stakes are this high at the bottom of the table.
Fiorentina, sitting 18th with 21 points, are desperate to claw their way out of the relegation zone. A win tonight would see them draw level with 17th-placed Lecce on 24 points, potentially lifting them out of immediate danger. Pisa, meanwhile, languish in 19th on 15 points, six adrift of their hosts and level with Verona at the very bottom. The visitors have endured a torrid campaign, with their last league victory dating all the way back to November. For Pisa, the hope is simple: halve the gap to Fiorentina and keep their survival hopes alive.
Both teams are coming into this fixture with plenty to prove and a few headaches to manage. Fiorentina’s squad has been stretched by suspensions and injuries. Rolando Mandragora is out after collecting his fifth yellow card in the 2-1 win at Como on February 14, and head coach Paolo Vanoli will also be absent from the touchline, serving his own suspension. The injury list doesn’t make for pleasant reading either, with Tariq Lamptey (knee) sidelined and doubts over Albert Gudmundsson (ankle) and Daniele Rugani (calf). Despite these setbacks, the Viola will be buoyed by the return of key players David de Gea, Moise Kean, and Dodo—each rested for their emphatic 3-0 Conference League win over Jagiellonia Białystok in Poland last Thursday.
Pisa’s woes are similarly acute. The squad is without Simone Scuffet (muscle), Isak Vural (knee), Daniel Denoon (ankle), and Adrian Semper. Coach Oscar Hiljemark, who replaced Gilardino earlier in the season, has struggled to steady the ship, with Pisa winless in their last 14 league outings (six draws, eight losses). The most recent disappointment was a 2-1 defeat at home to AC Milan. Yet, there’s a glimmer of hope: Pisa have managed to score in four of their last five away games, and their 16 away goals rank eighth in Serie A this season.
The probable line-ups reflect the teams’ depleted ranks and tactical adjustments. Fiorentina are expected to field De Gea in goal, with Dodo, Pongracic, Ranieri, and Parisi forming the back line. Fagioli anchors the midfield, supported by Harrison, Brescianini, Ndour, and Solomon, while Moise Kean leads the attack. Pisa’s likely starting eleven features Nicolas between the posts, a defensive trio of Canestrelli, Caracciolo, and Bozhinov, with Touré, Loyola, Aebischer, Marin, and Angori across the midfield. Up front, Moreo and Stojilkovic will be tasked with finding the net.
Recent form suggests Fiorentina have a slight edge. The Viola have picked up 15 points from their last 10 league games, compared to Pisa’s five. Moise Kean, in particular, has been in bright form, scoring in back-to-back Serie A matches this month. According to Betfred Insights, "Fiorentina are at home, have a better starting XI and squad, and are in better form, picking up five more points than Pisa over the last five league games, and 10 more over the last 10." Kean’s recent performances have been crucial—he netted in a 2-2 draw with Torino on February 7 and converted a penalty in the win at Como. Rested midweek, the 25-year-old Italian international will be eager to exploit a Pisa defense that has shipped 18 goals in eight games since the turn of the year.
Despite Fiorentina’s recent uptick, their home form has been patchy. The team is winless in their last four league matches at the Franchi and has conceded 11 goals in their last seven outings. Defensive frailties remain a concern, especially with Mandragora’s absence in midfield. Still, confidence is growing after back-to-back victories—a morale-boosting Conference League triumph and a gritty league win.
Pisa, for their part, have been dreadful at home, collecting just seven points from 13 games, but have fared marginally better on the road. They’ve drawn eight and lost four of their 12 away matches, showing some resilience even if wins have been elusive. The visitors’ only away defeat in their last five was a heavy 6-2 loss at league leaders Inter Milan. With little left to lose, Pisa may well throw caution to the wind in Florence, hoping to spring a surprise.
History, however, is not on Pisa’s side. The club has never won at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and has failed to score in six of their last seven Serie A meetings with Fiorentina. The reverse fixture in September ended goalless, and while another stalemate is possible, the odds heavily favor the hosts. Fiorentina are 4/6 favorites (a 60% probability) according to bookmakers, while Pisa are priced at 4/1 (20%).
Broadcast coverage for this high-stakes clash is robust. Fans in the UK and Ireland can catch the action live on DAZN, while viewers in the USA can tune in via Paramount+. The match kicks off at 18:30 CET (17:30 GMT), with Bologna vs. Udinese set to follow as the nightcap for Serie A’s 26th round.
As kickoff approaches, the pressure is palpable. For Fiorentina, three points would provide a much-needed lifeline in their battle for survival and a chance to build momentum ahead of their Europa Conference League campaign. For Pisa, a positive result could inject belief into a squad short on confidence and running out of time. Will Kean continue his scoring streak? Can Hiljemark’s men defy the odds and reignite their season?
With both teams fighting for every inch and a raucous Franchi crowd behind them, tonight’s encounter promises drama, tension, and perhaps a few surprises. The Serie A relegation battle is heating up—and tonight, in Florence, it’s all on the line.