Fiorentina vs Paphos prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-11-27 20:00.
[p]Despite suffering their first defeat in the UEFA Conference League against APOEL last time out (2-1), Fiorentina start this round in the automatic qualification places (W2, L1). That does appear to have been a very rare blip for Raffaele Palladino’s men, as that’s their only loss in their last 12 matches stretching back to mid-September (W10, D1), so there’s every expectation they can bounce back here against another Cypriot side.[/p]
[p]A quicker start could certainly help them on that front, as La Viola are yet to score before half-time in the Conference League proper this season, trailing at the break in their last two games. Even if they are slow to get going, home comforts should still see Fiorentina over the line given that they’ve won five consecutive matches here and been beaten just twice in 17 Conference League games as hosts (W11, D4, L2).[/p]
[p]Boasting the same points return at this stage as their more illustrious hosts, Pafos will travel to Italy with confidence on the back of a five-game winning run across all competitions. That was only further boosted by a 2-1 domestic win over APOEL at the weekend – the side who beat Fiorentina on matchday three – to maintain their unbeaten start to the league season (W10, D1).[/p]
[p]Pafos are therefore well positioned to become just the second Cypriot team to reach the knockout phase of a European competition. And while this may be one of the most daunting trips to face in the Conference League, the visitors are unlikely to be overawed considering they’ve won four consecutive away matches – including a 4-1 win over Petrocub on matchday one – though conceding first in that victory forms part of a trend, as they’ve gone 1-0 down in five of their last six road trips.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: After netting against APOEL, Jonathan Ikoné has now scored three goals across Fiorentina’s last two Conference League matches, with all three arriving between the 54th and 74th minute. Full-back João Correia has developed a keen eye for goal this term, scoring twice in Pafos’ last Conference League away match, while he’s also netted in back-to-back league matches.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Including qualification, Pafos have conceded in the opening 30 minutes in each of their five away European matches this term.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tomáš Vlasák[/i][/p]