Fiorentina vs Club Brugge KV prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-05-01 19:00.
[p]Beaten in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) final last season, Fiorentina remain on course to make amends this time around. The Italian outfit are through to the semi-finals where they will face Club Brugge, and after going unbeaten since the start of the group phase (W5, D5), their supporters will be dreaming of a first major trophy since the 2000/01 Coppa Italia.[/p]
[p]As the season wears on, the UECL is becoming ever-more important for Vincenzo Italiano’s side too, as it may provide their best opportunity of qualifying for Europe. They were dumped out of the Coppa Italia with a 4-1 defeat to Atalanta last week, but did respond by dishing out a 5-1 hammering to Sassuolo on Sunday – a third victory across their last four outings (L1) to keep alive their European qualification hopes via the league if they’re unsuccessful in the UECL.[/p]
[p]Fiorentina’s resurgent form may worry their opponents, who are winless in their last 11 outings against Italian opposition (D4, L7). The Belgian outfit should make the long journey south full of confidence though, given they remain undefeated since interim boss Nicky Hayen took the reins in mid-March (W7, D1), registering five clean sheets in the process, two of which came in this competition as Brugge beat PAOK 3-0 over two legs to book their spot in the last four.[/p]
[p]It’s therefore been a remarkable rise for the boss, who was in charge of Welsh minnows Haverfordwest in the Cymru Premier less than two years ago. He would dearly love to enhance his chances of getting the job permanently by securing a first European title for Blue-Black, while also keeping his eye on domestic success, given they are currently joint-top of the table and within reach of winning back the league crown they last claimed two years ago.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Fiorentina attacker Nicolás González has won ten of the last 12 games in which he has scored, while none of his last seven goals arrived earlier than the 48th minute. Battling him for second-half supremacy, Club Brugge striker Igor Thiago has netted eight of his last 11 goals after half-time.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ten of Club Brugge’s last 13 games across all competitions have featured 3+ goals.[/p]