Fiorentina vs Ferencvaros prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-10-04 19:00.
Last season's UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) runners-up Fiorentina were held 2-2 at Genk on matchday one despite taking the lead on two occasions, as they attempt to go one better after ending as runner’s up in this competition last year. However, La Viola have won twice in their three subsequent outings this season (D1), including a 3-0 win over Cagliari on Monday night which saw them move up to fifth in Serie A (SA).
Fiorentina secured their participation in back-to-back UECL group stages thanks to a 2-0 second-leg victory over Rapid Wien in the play-offs, which forms part of a three-match winning run at Stadio Artemio Franchi. In the UECL only, Fiorentina have won six of their nine home games (D1, L2), a trend they should improve upon here as they enter this game as warm favourites.
Heading to Florence are Ferencváros, who are the group's early leaders following their 3-1 home triumph over Čukarički. The Hungarian side haven’t beaten an Italian opponent in their previous four attempts, most recently losing to Juventus 6-2 on aggregate across two group encounters in the Champions League in 2020/21. However, the Green Eagles topped their Europa League group last term and will be hoping to change this recent history.
Ferencváros are currently in great shape, coming into Thursday’s game off the back of ten consecutive wins, including a 6-1 thrashing away to MTK Budapest at the weekend. Visiting manager Dejan Stanković also has great knowledge of Italian football both as a player and in the dugout, winning 11 of his 15 meetings with Fiorentina as a midfielder for Lazio and Inter Milan (D3, L1).
Players to watch: Defender Luca Ranieri scored twice against Genk in the first half – his first two goals for Fiorentina. He’ll be trying to stop Barnabas Varga, who has scored 11 times in his last ten encounters for club and country, including a first-half equaliser against ÄŚukariÄŤki.
Hot stat: There has been at least one goal inside the opening 20 minutes in four of Fiorentina’s last five matches.