Fiorentina is struggling as it prepares to face Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Conference League this Thursday at Stadio Artemio Franchi. The team has experienced a rough patch, losing their last three matches in the competition after starting strong with two wins. Currently, Fiorentina sits in 17th place in the league standings, just above their opponents, who find themselves in a precarious situation, fighting against potential elimination.
Match Preview: Fiorentina vs. Dynamo Kiev
Fiorentina fans had hoped for improvement following the appointment of new head coach Paolo Vanoli. Unfortunately, the team remains winless under his leadership after five matches. Their record includes two draws and three losses. The latest defeat came against AEK Athens, adding to their woes as they struggle domestically and in Europe.
Dynamo Kiev shares a similar fate, with only one victory in their last four matches in the Conference League. They recently suffered a 2-0 loss to Omonia, leading to the firing of coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. Ihor Kostiuk has since taken over, but the team only managed to secure a win against Kudrivka last weekend.
Current Standings
- Fiorentina: 17th place in Conference League
- Dynamo Kiev: 27th place in a 36-team table
Both teams are in dire need of points as they approach the penultimate fixture of the group stage. Fiorentina has historically struggled in European competitions, with previous attempts against Dynamo yielding no victories. They must win to revive their chances of qualifying for the knockout rounds.
Team News
Fiorentina’s squad is relatively healthy, though they will be without key players Jacopo Fazzini, Tariq Lamptey, and Robin Gosens due to injuries. Cher Ndour has been a bright spot, contributing significantly to the team’s scoring efforts this season.
Dynamo Kiev will also miss several players, including Andriy Yarmolenko and Volodymyr Brazhko, both sidelined due to injury. The lack of scoring power has been evident as no player from Dynamo has netted more than one goal in this competition.
Possible Lineups
| Fiorentina | De Gea; Pongracic, Mari, Ranieri; Dodo, Mandragora, Fagioli, Sohm, Parisi; Kean, Gudmundsson |
|---|---|
| Dynamo Kiev | Neshcheret; Karavaev, Zakharchenko, Thiare, Mykhavko; Pikhalyonok, Mykhaylenko, Rubchynskyi; Voloshyn, Ponomarenko, Kabaev |
Match Prediction
With both teams in desperate need of a win, expectations are high for an intense match. Fiorentina’s poor form raises doubts on whether they can secure the necessary points. Conversely, Dynamo Kiev hopes to exploit Fiorentina’s struggles but has their work cut out for them.
A draw seems likely, as both teams could end up sharing the points, extending Dynamo’s winless stretch against Fiorentina. This match is pivotal for both squads in their pursuit of advancement in the UEFA Conference League.
