Prediction: Fiorentina vs Club Brugge

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 37/50

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Fiorentina aim to secure a second consecutive Europa Conference League final appearance as they host Club Brugge at the Stadio Artemio Franchi for the first leg of their semifinal clash on Thursday night.

La Viola had to rely on extra time to overcome Viktoria Plzen in the quarterfinals, while Club Brugge comfortably progressed to the last four with a convincing two-legged victory over Molde.

Fiorentina

After narrowly advancing past Maccabi Haifa with a 5-4 aggregate scoreline in the round of 16, Fiorentina encountered difficulties breaking through Viktoria Plzen’s resilient defense in the quarterfinals. The tie seemed destined for penalties after a goalless deadlock over two legs.

However, Fiorentina’s persistence paid off in extra time, with Nicolas Gonzalez and Cristiano Biraghi finding the net to secure a 2-0 aggregate victory, extending their unbeaten run in the competition to 11 matches.

Following their European exploits, Vincenzo Italiano’s side had a mixed run domestically. They secured a 2-0 Serie A victory over already-relegated Salernitana but suffered a disappointing 4-2 aggregate defeat to Atalanta in the Coppa Italia semifinals, bowing out after a 4-1 loss in the second leg.

Nevertheless, Fiorentina bounced back strongly with a resounding 5-1 victory over Sassuolo in Serie A, marking their joint-largest league win of the season. They currently sit eighth in the table, but with only five games remaining and trailing seven points behind the top seven, winning the Conference League arguably offers their best chance of qualifying for Europe next season.

Although Fiorentina have never faced Club Brugge before, they approach Thursday’s first leg with confidence, having lost just one of their last nine home games in all competitions since February. Basel was the last team to defeat Fiorentina in Florence in the Conference League, securing a 2-1 victory in May 2023.

Team News

Fiorentina’s injury concerns only relate to midfielder Rolando Mandragora who is dealing with a back problem, while striker M’Bala Nzola remains unavailable due to personal reasons.

After rotating his starting lineup in the previous weekend, Italiano is likely to reintroduce some of his key players on Thursday. First-choice goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano, centre-back Nikola Milenkovic, and captain Cristiano Biraghi are all expected to return to the starting lineup.

Arthur and Alfred Duncan may maintain their positions in central midfield, but Giacomo Bonaventura is poised to replace Antonin Barak in the number 10 role. Leading scorer Nicolas Gonzalez, with 13 goals across all competitions this season, could be supported in attack by Christian Kouame and Andrea Belotti.

Club Brugge

Club Brugge have secured their first European semifinal in 32 years by defeating PAOK 3-0 on aggregate in the quarterfinals, setting their sights on a potential return to Greece for the Conference League final in Athens on June 7th.

While experiencing fluctuations in form this season, particularly domestically, Brugge have undergone a transformation since the dismissal of Ronny Deila in March. Caretaker manager Nicky Hayen has made an immediate impact, guiding the team to a draw in his debut match followed by seven consecutive victories across all competitions. During this impressive run, they’ve scored 18 goals and conceded only two.

Entering Thursday’s clash with confidence as well, Brugge recently secured convincing victories over Genk in the Belgian Pro League, winning both home and away matches by an aggregate score of 7-0 in just four days. Their 3-0 away triumph on Sunday has propelled them level on points with league leaders Anderlecht as they approach the final stretch of the season.

While their focus remains on reclaiming the top-flight crown, European success is also within reach for Hayen’s team. Their formidable away record in the Conference League, with six wins in their last seven away matches, bodes well for their upcoming trip to Florence.

However, Club Brugge face a significant challenge in Italy, having failed to secure a victory in their last 11 European visits to the country. During this period, they have suffered seven defeats and managed four draws.

Team News

Andreas Skov Olsen has bounced back from a hip injury and was included in the matchday squad last weekend, putting him in consideration for Thursday’s match.

Hayen faces a decision regarding the goalkeeper position, weighing whether to continue with Nordin Jackers or reintroduce former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who has recovered from a hamstring injury.

Despite Ferran Jutgla’s impressive performance with two goals in the second-leg victory over PAOK, he may make way for striker Igor Thiago, who is bound for Brentford and has scored 28 goals this season. Thiago was unavailable in the last match due to a continental suspension.

Conclusion

While Fiorentina may hold a slight edge entering Thursday’s match, the two teams are closely matched. Club Brugge has thrived under Hayen’s leadership, but facing Fiorentina will be their toughest challenge yet. A narrow home victory seems likely, setting the stage for an intriguing second leg in Belgium next week.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 37/50

Bookmaker: ZetBet