Preview: Fiorentina vs Rakow Czestochowa – prediction, team news, lineups

After surviving an enormous scare within the playoffs, two-time finalists Fiorentina will proceed their newest Conference League marketing campaign on Thursday night, when Rakow Czestochowa pay a go to to Stadio Franchi.

Having squeezed previous Jagiellonia Bialystok final month, the Viola should now host one other Polish facet within the first leg of their final-16 tie, with 1 / 4-last in opposition to both Crystal Palace or AEK Larnaca at stake.

Match preview

With one foot apparently within the subsequent spherical, Fiorentina welcomed Ekstraklasa leaders Jagiellonia to Florence having constructed a 3-aim lead from the primary leg in Poland.

However, Jaga had been again on degree phrases by the fiftieth minute, and solely two additional-time targets spared the Italian facet’s blushes as they in the end received 5-4 on mixture.

Conference League runners-up twice up to now three years – and the one membership to attain 100 targets in UEFA’s third-tier competitors – the Viola have struggled by means of this season’s continental marketing campaign.

Fiorentina’s fifteenth-place end within the league part noticed them slip into the playoffs, the place they nearly suffered an embarrassing exit in entrance of their very own followers.

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

Following a latest 3-0 defeat to Udinese and Sunday’s house draw with Parma, they sit only one level away from the drop zone – largely because of the dismal type of 18th-positioned Cremonese.

Before resuming their relegation battle with a vital conflict in opposition to Cremo subsequent Monday, Fiorentina will face their twelfth knockout tie within the Conference League, after progressing from 10 of the earlier 11 – the exception being final yr’s semi-last defeat to Real Betis.

Though the Tuscan membership have additionally scored not less than twice in every of their final six European knockout video games at Stadio Franchi, they have to now host one of many Conference League’s most miserly defences.

© Iconsport / SUSA

Conceding simply two targets throughout six outings to date, Rakow Czestochowa boast the second-finest defensive report on this season’s match, and that helped them cruise into the spherical of 16.

Unbeaten by means of the league part, with 4 wins and two attracts, they completed second to safe direct progress while not having a playoff.

Rakow are having fun with probably the most profitable interval of their historical past, having adopted again-to-again home cup triumphs in 2021 and 2022 with their first league title one yr later. 

Runners-up in Poland’s prime flight final time period, they then got here by means of three qualifying rounds simply to achieve the Conference League correct, and so they have actually maintained that momentum.

By distinction with Fiorentina’s woes, Lukasz Tomczyk’s facet are flying excessive within the Ekstraklasa; Sunday’s 2-0 win over Pogon Szczecin left them fourth within the desk, simply 4 factors adrift of prime spot.

So, they’re nicely set for a springtime journey to Tuscany, the place they may meet Italian opposition for simply the second time ever: Rakow misplaced twice to eventual winners Atalanta within the 2023-24 Europa League group stage.

Fiorentina Conference League type:

L L W L W L

Fiorentina type (all competitions):

W W W L L D

Rakow Czestochowa Conference League type:

W D D W W W

Rakow Czestochowa type (all competitions):

D D W L W W

Team News

© Imago / Gribaudi

Vanoli is ready to rotate his squad, as he usually makes sweeping adjustments for European fixtures and Fiorentina face a significant league recreation subsequent Monday. 

Star striker Moise Kean missed out on the weekend with a shin drawback, so Roberto Piccoli could also be requested to proceed up entrance, whereas Luca Lezzerini and Manor Solomon are nonetheless injured.

Fabiano Parisi can return from a one-match home ban, however Croatian centre-again Marin Pongracic will probably be suspended for this week’s first leg.

Set to begin in midfield, Rolando Mandragora has made probably the most appearances (45) and scored probably the most targets (9) within the Viola’s Conference League historical past. 

Meanwhile, Rakow’s prime scorer within the competitors is Lamine Diaby-Fadiga, who has discovered the web six instances in 11 appearances – together with qualifiers.

The French ahead ought to assist lone striker Jonatan Braut Brunes, whose opening strike on Sunday took his tally to 12 Ekstraklasa targets for the season.

Aston Villa loanee Oliwier Zych will begin in aim, whereas ACL sufferer Vladyslav Kocherhin is the guests’ solely confirmed absentee.

Fiorentina doable beginning lineup:

De Gea; Fortini, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Parisi; Brescianini, Mandragora, Fabbian; Harrison, Piccoli, Fazzini

Rakow Czestochowa doable beginning lineup:

Zych; Tudor, Racovitan, Svarnas; Ameyaw, Repka, Struski, Carlos; Diaby-Fadiga, Makuch; Brunes

We say: Fiorentina 1-2 Rakow Czestochowa

In Serie A, Fiorentina have solely claimed 14 factors from a doable 42 on house soil this season, and so they stay very weak on the again.

Also with one eye on Monday’s relegation six-pointer, the Viola might lose to Polish guests once more: Rakow have already confirmed their functionality, each in qualifying and a powerful stroll by means of the league part.

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