Preview: Fiorentina vs Jagiellonia Bialystok – prediction, team news, lineups

With one foot already within the subsequent spherical, Fiorentina will welcome Jagiellonia Bialystok to Stadio Franchi on Thursday, because the pair conclude their Conference League playoff.

Last week’s 3-0 win in Poland leaves the Viola sturdy favourites to fulfill both Strasbourg or one other Polish team, Rakow Czestochowa, within the final 16.

Match preview

A shocking second-half efficiency in Bialystok has put Fiorentina in charge of what gave the impression to be a tough tie, and their three-aim lead is the biggest of any team on this 12 months’s knockout-section playoffs. 

The spotlight of a dream night was Rolando Mandragora‘s excellent free kick into the highest nook, because the Italian membership put themselves in an ideal place to progress after this week’s second leg. 

Fiorentina have been Conference League runners-up twice previously three years, whereas they’re the one facet to attain greater than 100 targets in UEFA’s third-tier competitors. 

However, in distinction to their current campaigns – which all led to both the semis or remaining – the Viola struggled considerably on this season’s league section, ending fifteenth within the desk and slipping into the playoffs.

Paolo Vanoli‘s facet have additionally been enduring a tricky time on the home entrance, the place they face a scrap for Serie A survival.

Since arriving in November, Vanoli has overseen some enchancment, and his team are exhibiting indicators they will escape relegation.

Now 4 video games unbeaten throughout all competitions, they beat Tuscan rivals Pisa 1-0 on Monday night, when Moise Kean‘s essential strike lastly lifted them out of the drop zone. 

Though that was only a third win from 13 league video games in Florence this time period, historical past shall be on their facet when Jagiellonia come to city: up to now, Fiorentina have progressed from all six Conference League knockout ties wherein they gained the primary leg.

© Imago / Newspix

Furthermore, Polish golf equipment have traditionally gained simply twice in 32 European away video games in opposition to Serie A sides, shedding 25 instances; albeit Fiorentina did undergo each Italian defeats, to Lech Poznan in 2015 and 2023.

So, precedent suggests Jagiellonia have barely any likelihood of turning this tie round or replicating final 12 months’s run to the Conference League quarter-finals.

Before their second-half collapse final week, the Bialystok membership had confirmed robust to beat: together with qualifiers, a house loss to Rayo Vallecano was their sole defeat in a dozen European fixtures.

Before heading to Stadio Franchi, they’re unbeaten in six continental away video games, having drawn every of the final three.

Now, although, the Ekstraklasa leaders – who lastly claimed their first league title in 2024 – should win by at the least three targets to keep away from an exit within the first knockout spherical.

Currently main the best way in Poland’s high flight, Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Radomiak Radom left Jaga two factors away from a crowded chasing pack – and with one recreation in hand – however they’ve gained none of their final three matches.

Fiorentina Conference League type:

W L L W L W

Fiorentina type (all competitions):

L L D W W W

Jagiellonia Bialystok Conference League type:

D D W L D L

Jagiellonia Bialystok type (all competitions):

D W W D L D

Team News

© Imago

Vanoli rotated his sources for the primary leg, making eight modifications to the Fiorentina team that had simply crushed Como, and the same story must be anticipated this Thursday.

His precedence is to safe high-flight survival, so the likes of David De Gea, Dodo, Manor Solomon and Kean may very well be sidelined once more.

Albert Gudmundsson returned to the bench on Monday night, leaving lengthy-time period absentee Tariq Lamptey as the only real participant nonetheless dominated out by damage.

After serving a suspension in opposition to Pisa, Mandragora is ready to begin in midfield; he has made probably the most appearances (44), scored probably the most targets (9) and posted probably the most aim involvements (13) throughout the Viola’s Conference League campaigns.

Meanwhile, Jagiellonia coach Adrian Siemieniec shall be glad to welcome influential duo Afimico Pululu and Taras Romanczuk again from bans.

Last time period’s Conference League high scorer and Jaga’s lengthy-serving captain respectively, they need to each function within the guests’ lineup, with Jesus Imaz prone to help Pululu up entrance.

Elsewhere, injured pair Sergio Lozano and Dusan Stojinovic are anticipated to overlook out.

Fiorentina attainable beginning lineup:

Lezzerini; Fortini, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Gosens; Mandragora, Ndour; Harrison, Fabbian, Fazzini; Piccoli

Jagiellonia Bialystok attainable beginning lineup:

Abramowicz; Wojtuszek, Vital, Pelmard, Wdowik; Romanczuk, Mazurek; Pozo, Imaz, Jozwiak; Pululu

We say: Fiorentina 1-1 Jagiellonia Bialystok (Fiorentina win 4-1 on combination)

Both groups could have their minds elsewhere, with Fiorentina preventing for Serie A salvation and Jagiellonia vying for the Polish title.

Given their distinct lack of targets on this season’s Conference League marketing campaign, it’s robust to think about Jaga producing a giant fightback – even when their hosts are nonetheless fragile.

For knowledge evaluation of the most certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.