Prediction: Fiorentina vs West Ham

Verdict: Fiorentina to lift the trophy

Best Odds: 20/21

Bookmaker: Luckster

With this year’s Europa Conference League title up for grabs on Wednesday night, Fiorentina will meet West Ham out in Prague.

Fiorentina

Starting with Fiorentina, signing off their Serie A campaign with another eye-catching display last weekend, the Viola will travel out to Prague riding a recent wave of momentum. Mounting a stunning semi-final comeback away at Basel on May 18th as they eventually clinched a 4-3 aggregate victory, Vincenzo Italiano’s side have lost just one of their last six appearances across all competitions. Last seen a few days ago claim a lively 3-1 victory away at Sassuolo, the Tuscany-based outfit have also found a recent clinical edge in the final third. On a run that is highlighted by a 2-1 win against Europa League finalists Roma when signing off May, Fiorentina have notched 12 strikes on their six-match run. Opening Wednesday’s date with Destiny tipped as a marginal favourite, the former Spezia boss will be confident that his squad can complete what has been a rollercoaster Conference League adventure.

Team News

Suffering an Achilles Tendon injury and not making a single appearance since the middle of March, former PSG shot-stopper Salvatore Sirigu will once again miss out here. The likes of Giacomo Bonaventura and Nicolas Gonzalez should be handed a full recall here.

Once again finding the net away at Sassuolo last weekend and notching eight Conference League strikes this season, Arthur Cabral will spearhead the Viola’s charge in Prague.

West Ham

As for West Ham, although David Moyes’ men might have continued on a real Conference League romp this season, the Hammers have shown some extended inconsistencies this season. At the heart of a Premier League relegation scrap in 2023 and signing off their downbeat domestic campaign with a 2-1 loss away at Leicester on May 28th, the former Manchester United boss will have a headache over his side’s extended defensive issues. Despite punching their European final ticket thanks to a 3-1 aggregate victory against AZ Alkmaar last month, West Ham have recorded just two clean sheet from any of their previous nine appearances across all competitions. With that defensive rut stemming all the way back to a 4-0 romp away at Bournemouth on April 23rd, Moyes’ men will be more than aware that they face a real challenge when they travel to Prague on Wednesday night.

Team News

Picking up a long-term knee injury earlier in the year, West Ham will once again be without Italian international Gianluca Scammaca on Wednesday night. Starting in each of the Hammers’ European appearances this season, Alphonse Areola should return between the sticks here.

Notching seven strikes in his 10 Europa Conference League appearances this year, 33-year-old Michail Antonio will spearhead Moyes’ attack in Prague.

Key Factors to Consider

• Including signing off their Serie A campaign with a 3-1 victory away at Sassuolo, Fiorentina have lost just one of their final six appearances across all competitions.
• The Viola have seen each of their last five matchups finish with both teams finding the net.
• The Hammers have recorded just a pair of clean sheets from their last nine appearances across all competitions.
• 25-year-old Arthur Cabral has scored eight Europa Conference League goals this season and currently leads the chase to lift this year’s European Golden Boot.
• West Ham have lost four of their final five matchups away from the London Stadium.

Conclusion

Signing off their Serie A campaign with a 3-1 romp away at Sassuolo, Fiorentina will travel out to Prague with the mood in their camp at a real high. Mounting that stellar semi-final comeback against Basel last month and losing just one of their last six appearances across all competitions, the Viola have also found a real clinical edge in the final third. While West Ham might have eventually clung to their Premier League status this season, the Hammers have certainly shown some extended struggles while away from the London Stadium. Despite securing that famous 1-0 victory in Amsterdam on May 18th, Moyes’ men have lost each of their other four contests on the road. Although Fiorentina might have endured a major European rollercoaster this year, we are backing Italiano’s side to get their hands on a first piece of silverware since 2001.

Verdict: Fiorentina to lift the trophy

Best Odds: 20/21

Bookmaker: Luckster