Club Brugge 1-1 Fiorentina (3-4 agg): Viola seal Europa Conference League final return

Lucas Beltran was Fiorentina’s hero as his late penalty in a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge ensured they progressed to the Europa Conference League final.

Beltran held his nerve from the spot to score an 85th-minute equaliser, earning a draw on the night but a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Fiorentina won the first leg 3-2, but Hans Vanaken’s 20th-minute opener levelled the tie on Wednesday.

Christian Kouame hit the woodwork twice for Fiorentina, but the pressure finally told when Brandon Mechele caught M’Bala Nzola with a high boot.

Beltran made no mistake, with Fiorentina holding firm to seal their place in the final in Athens on May 29.

Fiorentina lost last season’s final to West Ham, and the Serie A club will now face either Olympiacos or Aston Villa.

Yesssssssss#forzaviola #fiorentina #CLUACF #uecl pic.twitter.com/4xxZp2k1Dc

— ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) May 8, 2024

Data Debrief: Back-to-back finals for Viola

Fiorentina have reached a European final for the sixth time in their history, and the second time in a row, though they have only won one of their previous five attempts.

They have only achieved that feat once before, which was back in 1961 and 1962.