Basaksehir vs Fiorentina prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-09-14 19:00.
After successfully negotiating three rounds of UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) qualification, İstanbul Başakşehir made their mark on the group stages with a thumping 4-0 victory over Hearts. That win was by far the biggest on UECL matchday one, and extended Başakşehir’s unbeaten run this season to 11, before a stunning 1-0 victory against title favourites Beşiktaş stretched that run even further.
Başakşehir now come into this game full of confidence as they seek to prolong their unbeaten run at home in Europe this term (W1, D2). Yet tipping the balance on an indifferent record in Istanbul in European group games (W3, D3, L3) may prove tricky against Fiorentina, as Başakşehir have unhappy memories of facing Italian opposition, with their heaviest home (3-0) and joint-heaviest away (4-0) European defeats both coming against Roma!
The prospects of Fiorentina getting anywhere near either of those record scorelines appears slim considering ‘I Viola’ have scored just three goals across their last seven outings (D5, L2). A 2-1 Serie A (SA) defeat against Bologna on Sunday rounded off a rather dismal week for boss Vincenzo Italiano, who branded his side’s weekend loss as “madness” after taking the lead.
Italiano was quick to admit he “takes the blame”, but he must quickly regain focus to avoid Fiorentina’s prize for their seventh-placed SA finish last season coming undone in the UECL group stages. That season saw Fiorentina secure their first taste of European football since 2016/17, the last of a run of four-successive UEFA Europa League appearances, in which they registered 12 unbeaten away group stage games (W9, D3), raising hopes of an inaugural UECL proper victory here.
Players to watch: Former Italian international Stefano Okaka has seen both of his UECL strikes this term for Başakşehir be decisive in victories. Meanwhile, Antonín Barák opened his Fiorentina account on UECL matchday one against RFS and his last three club strikes have been game openers.
Hot streak: Fiorentina have won all six of their previous games against Turkish opposition in European competition.