Fiorentina vs RFS prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-09-07 16:45.
While Fiorentina have lost just one of their opening seven competitive games of the season, a run of four draws across the last five has been less than inspiring. Boss Vincenzo Italiano was somewhere “between angry and regretful” following Fiorentina’s latest draw, a 1-1 vs Juventus at the weekend, yet he will hope for a resurgent performance to kick start their European campaign, with the club never being eliminated from a group stage across their four continental campaigns.
As the only Italian side in this UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) group stage, Fiorentina will look to emulate the success of inaugural winners Roma, and will begin this game as one of the hot favourites for the trophy. La Viola begin that bid with their first ever competitive encounter with Latvian opponents, and a positive return of eight unbeaten games across their last 12 European home group games suggests Fiorentina should start their campaign well (W7, D1, L4).
Founded in just 2011, Latvian outfit RFS completed a domestic double last term and are in the thick of another title race. The Latvians were only denied entry to the UECL group stage last season by a 3-2 aggregate loss against Belgian side Gent, suggesting that they have what it takes to give the bigger clubs a run for their money.
This time around, RFS defeated Maltese and Northern Irish opponents to make this historical group appearance. Only the second Latvian side to feature in a European group stage after Ventspils’ winless campaign back in the 2009/10 Europa League (D3, L3), RFS only need to win one game to become the best performing Latvian side in European club football history, although finding that historic victory against Fiorentina looks unlikely.
Players to watch: Riccardo Sottil has assisted three times in six appearances this season, including setting up a crucial goal against Twente to get Fiorentina to this stage. As for RFS, six of Andrej Ilić’s last 12 goals for the club were decisive in victory, he also scored from the spot in their UECL qualifying penalties win over Linfield.
Hot stat: Six of Fiorentina’s last eight European group stage home games produced over 2.5 goals.