Vitoria Guimaraes vs Fiorentina prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-12-18 20:00.
[p]Arguably matchday six of the UEFA Conference League’s marquee fixture pits second-placed VitĂłria GuimarĂŁes (W4, D1) against third-placed Fiorentina (W4, L1). The hosts are making an impressive debut in the main draw of this competition, and can assure direct passage to the last 16 merely by avoiding defeat – the same of which can be said of their Italian visitors.[/p]
[p]While Vitória may have conceded exactly once in all five league phase matches, they showed a ruthless edge at the other end of the pitch when dispatching St Gallen 4-1 on matchday five. That made it a club-record seven games unbeaten on the road in Europe, but they’re similarly impressive at home, where they’ve won all five European matches this term, opening the scoring each time.[/p]
[p]If anyone is to end that run, back-to-back Conference League finalists Fiorentina may be the ones to do it given the incredible run they’re on. The Viola have won 12 of their last 15 matches across all competitions (L3), and dished out a 7-0 thrashing to Austrian side LASK on matchday five. That took their goal tally to a club record 17 for the league/group phase – a total bettered only by runaway leaders Chelsea in this competition.[/p]
[p]Raffaele Palladino’s men have shown vulnerability on their European travels this season however, winning inside 90 minutes in just one of their three such matches this term (D1, L1). Fiorentina also travel bruised from a 1-0 Serie A defeat to Bologna on the road which dented their growing hopes of a league title, so a response is needed to avoid their first set of back-to-back defeats since February.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Nuno Santos’ pair of assists against St Gallen last week took his direct goal contribution tally to six in the Conference League this season (G2, A4) – three of his last four goals in any competition arrived before half-time. After a brace against LASK last week, Riccardo Sottil now has three goals in the competition, scoring his side’s first goal before the break in both matches in which he found the net.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: VitĂłria have scored between the 31st minute and half-time in five of their last six home matches.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tomáš Vlasák[/i][/p]