Viktoria Plzen-Fiorentina is a match valid for the first leg of the Conference League quarterfinals and is played Thursday at 6:45 p.m.: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
A Fiorentina with two faces – brilliant in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against Atalanta and unresponsive in the league against Juventus – show that Vincenzo Italiano’s team has already made “choices. “
It’s all about the cups, since Serie A now has little to offer the Viola. The liliati, after reaching fourth place last December, have collapsed, slipping as low as tenth. Following the narrow defeat to the Bianconeri last Sunday – the usual flaws were seen again in Turin, especially in the scoring phase – Biraghi and his teammates have perhaps said goodbye definitively to the possibility of finishing among the top 7. Reason why Europe could only come through winning a trophy: Fiorentina is also in the running in the Conference League, which they already touched a year ago. The draw in Nyon did not turn its back on the Tuscans who, in addition to avoiding the strongest, Aston Villa, would theoretically have the road paved all the way to the final in Athens. In the quarters are the Czechs Viktoria Plzen, in the eventual semifinal one between Club Brugge and PAOK.
Czechs not to be underestimated
The question of the five Champions League spots will probably also depend on the Viola: if Italiano’s men finish at least among the top four, the fifth-place finisher in Serie A will also snatch a pass for the next edition of the cup with big ears.
It will not be necessary, however, to make the mistake of underestimating Viktoria Plzen, an organized and compact team that will try to hurt Fiorentina with restarts, taking advantage of the very high defensive line of Italiano’s formation. The Czechs, who in attack can count on a “tower” like Chory, certainly the most dangerous among his own, are third in the standings in their league – far from the title fight – and have lost only one game since last November. In the Conference League round of 16 they won over the Swiss Servette after penalty kicks (0-0 in the first leg and also in the return). Italian will make as usual a lot of turnover: certain of a starting shirt Gonzalez, Milenkovic, Bonaventura and Belotti.
The prediction
Viktoria Plzen will gladly leave the ball in the feet of the purple players and then strike on the counterattack. In the cup Fiorentina is usually more prolific than in the league – 5 total goals scored in the two challenges with Maccabi Haifa in the round of 16 – and for this reason we expect a match of at least one goal on each side.
The probable lineups of Viktoria Plzen-Fiorentina
VIKTORIA PLZEN (3-4-2-1): Jedlicka; Hranac, Jemelka, Dweh; Sykora, Cerv, Kalvach, Cadu; Vydra, Sulc; Chory.
FIORENTINA (4-2-3-1): Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Ranieri, Biraghi; Mandragora, Bonaventura; Nico Gonzalez, Barak, Kouamé; Belotti.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
