Verdict: Both teams score
Best odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
With a place in the final of this year’s Europa Conference League up for grabs on Wednesday evening, Fiorentina will travel to Club Bruges for the second leg.
Club Brugge
Let’s start with the hosts: Although Club Brugge may have suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat in Tuscany last week, the Belgian giants should fancy their chances of turning things around here. Nicky Hayen’s men immediately returned to winning ways at the weekend and picked up the perfect momentum with a 2-1 away win in Antwerp. They remain at the forefront of the fight to regain their domestic title over the next few weeks. Club Brugge have won eight of their nine games so far across all competitions in a continued momentum. The hosts on Wednesday will also be thrilled by their remarkable success at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Hayen’s side were last seen storming to a 4-0 win over Genk in front of their own fans, and have won all of their last six consecutive showdowns in front of their own fans by an aggregate score of 17-2.
Team news
As he has struggled with a number of injury problems this season and has not featured in any competition since early February, former Manchester City defender Dedryck Boyata remains on the sidelines and will not feature here. Apart from the Belgian international, Club Brugge has reported an impeccable state of health.
However, former Midtjylland midfielder Raphael Onyedika received a red card in the first leg last week and will be suspended for one game here. 22-year-old star player Igor Thiago, who scored in Tuscany to mark his seventh Europa Conference League goal of the season, will lead Hayen’s side on Wednesday evening.
Florence
As for the visitors, who suffered a 2-1 defeat to West Ham in the Europa Conference League last season, the Viola are keen to go one step further this time. Although Vincenzo Italiano’s side took a decisive lead in the first leg in Tuscany last week, the Italian side have struggled with consistency for much of this year. The former Sepzia coach, who came back down to earth at the weekend after the 2-1 defeat to Verona, will be aware that his side face another big challenge here. Fiorentina have won just three of their last nine appearances within 90 minutes and have continued to show some problems on the road this season. Including a 4-1 loss to Atalanta on April 24, Italiano’s side have recorded just two wins away from the Stadio Artemio Franchi since opening in 2024.
Team news
Riccardo Sottil suffered a suspected broken collarbone against Club Brugge last week and is not expected to return on Wednesday evening. Brazil international Dodo, who took a full break against Verona at the weekend, is sure to return to Fiorentina’s defense straight away.
Although Italy international Andrea Belotti has only scored two goals in all competitions since joining from Roma in January, the 30-year-old should lead the Viola’s attack. Experienced goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano will return between the posts in Belgium.
Key factors to consider
- When Club Brugge and Fiorentina met for a first-leg showdown last week, the Viola claimed a thrilling 3-2 victory on home soil.
- Wednesday’s guests have only had two away wins since the start of the new year.
- Club Brugge have won all of their last six consecutive showdowns in front of their own fans with an aggregate score of 17-2.
- Igor Thiago is apparently attracting interest in the Premier League and has scored three goals in his last four appearances.
- All of Fiorentina’s last four appearances across all formats have ended with both teams scoring.
Diploma
With Club Brugge and Fiorentina producing a five-goal thriller when they met in Tuscany last week, the neutrals will be hoping for a similar result here. With a place in the final of this year’s Europa Conference League firmly in the balance, we could be in for another action-packed affair on Wednesday evening. It should be noted that we expect a similar result at the Jan Breydel Stadium, as the Viola have seen both teams score in their last four appearances in all competitions.
Verdict: Both teams score
Best odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet