Predictions Europa Conference League - Club Brugge vs Fiorentina

Europa Conference League - Club Brugge vs Fiorentina
Match Time: 09-05-2024 00:45 Thursday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Club Brugge

That green streak of successes has seen Club Brugge register 17 goals while only letting in two at the other end of the field, which does not make for reassuring reading for a Fiorentina outfit reeling from another domestic setback on the road at the weekend.

Of course, the Viola may have already been pre-occupied with thoughts of Wednesday's second leg during their Serie A trip to Hellas Verona on Sunday, where a 2-1 defeat marked their second straight loss on the road following a 4-1 Coppa Italia hammering at the hands of Atalanta BC.

Fiorentina's eighth-placed standing in the Serie A table would still suffice for Europa Conference League qualification next year - the Italians earned a fifth Champions League spot thanks to their UEFA coefficient - but going all the way in this season's edition is their most viable route to a Europa League ticket.

Bidding to go one better than last year, where they suffered West Ham United-inflicted heartbreak in the final, Vincenzo Italiano's charges cannot cast their eye over their away record for inspiration, as just two of the visitors' 12 road matches in 2024 have seen the Viola come up trumps.

Furthermore, Fiorentina's Calcio counterparts Roma, Juventus and AC Milan have all fallen to defeat on Club Brugge's territory in the past, although all of those successes for the Belgian side came in the 1970s, before their current head coach had even been born.

Fiorentina

Twice Fiorentina found themselves a goal to the good last Thursday thanks to a Riccardo Sottil stunner and Andrea Belotti strike, and twice Club Brugge pegged La Viola straight back, as Hans Vanaken struck from the spot before top scorer Igor Thiago netted for the fifth time in the competition.

Thiago's leveller came just two minutes after Raphael Onyedika was dismissed for an inexplicable challenge while already on a yellow card, and while the 10 men of Brugge dug incredibly deep with their disadvantage, Fiorentina finally found their way again in added time through M'Bala Nzola.

As crushing as Fiorentina's 91st-minute goal was for those of a Belgian persuasion, a slender defeat away from home was hardly a disastrous outcome - especially with their numerical disadvantage in the second half - and a third European final is not beyond the realm of possibility for the Blue-Black.

Runners-up in the 1977-78 European Cup and 1975-76 UEFA Cup - losing both finals to Liverpool - Club Brugge maintained their push for Jupiler Pro League glory at the weekend, sinking Antwerp 2-1 for their sixth successive win in the top flight, one which keeps them two points clear at the top of the Champions' Play-offs group.

Under the temporary tutelage of Nicky Hayen, the club's youth team manager who succeeded Ronny Delia two months ago, Club Brugge have thrived with eight wins from 10 games with the 43-year-old at the helm, and each of their last six home matches has also ended in triumph.

Prediction: Club Brugge 1-1 Fiorentina