Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

Last year’s runners up are the favorites to reach the final in Athens and here’s Fiorentina vs Club Brugge, prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures, courtesy of our Italian football expert, Daniele Fisichella.

Prediction: Fiorentina 1-0 Club Brugge.

Serie A have qualified a team in each of the previous two Conference League finals, can they make it three in a row? 

Club Brugge, on the other hand, could become the first Belgian side to play a European final since Antwerp lost the Cup Winners’ Cup against Parma in 1993. 

• Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Tip 1: Under 2.5 Goals
• Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Tip 2: Under 1 Goals In The First Half Asian Line
• Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Tip 3: Nicolas Gonzalez To Score Or Assist

Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Prediction 1: cut the old mistakes

Conference League, Semi-final, first leg, Thursday, May 2nd, 20:00 (UK)

The hosts have made up for their inconsistent league campaign with another excellent European run. 

Now, La Viola needs to use all the experience gained from last year’s campaign in the same competition and make home advantage count. 

After last season’s 90th-minute heartbreak against West Ham, Fiorentina has declared the Conference League their main target for this season. 

Not by chance Vincenzo Italiano men’s best performances have come in Europe as they looked determined to win the first trophy of Rocco Commisso’s six-year-long presidency. 

To do so, against such an in form side like Club Brugge, Fiorentina need to show they’ve learnt from previous mistakes, such as conceding cheap goals on the break like they did in the final in Prague a year ago, and most recently in their Coppa Italia semi-final away at Atalanta.

Italiano is renowned for his uncompromising style of football. 

High press, full-backs on the attack and a man-to-man marking all over the pitch. However, the absence of pacey defenders has often exposed Fiorentina. 

Equally the hosts have struggled to create clear cut scoring chances, despite dominating possession in most of the games. 

• Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Prediction 1: Under 2.5 Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.82
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 7/10

Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Prediction 2: the visitors are on the up

Often, La Viola is not clinical enough in front of goal, and, considering all competitions, they’ve never won back-to-back games in 2024.

Fiorentina have scored 50 of their 33 Serie A goals at the ‘Artemio Franchi’, where they’ve never failed to score in the 14 Conference League matches played so far. 

However, also their European form in the last two seasons has been fairly volatile, in fact Fiorentina have failed to win five Conference League home games and lost both home legs in the quarter-final and semi-final last season.

Therefore Club Brugge, who have won 12 of their 16 matches this season in the competition, are in with a chance to cause an upset. 

The Belgian haven’t played in a European final since 1978, when they lost the European Cup 1-0 to Liverpool, and have clearly benefited from last year’s experience in the Champions League.

The visitors have won the last seven games and are level with Anderlecht at the top of the Pro League. 

Certainly the change on the bench, with Nicky Hayen replacing Ronny Deila, has contributed to the improvements of a team that lately has gone through a period of high instability, with seven managers, including Philippe Clement, Alfred Schruder and Scott Parker, in charge since 2021. 

• Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Prediction 2: Under 1 Goals In The First Half Asian Line (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.82
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 9/10

Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Prediction 3: Viola are in good ‘Nic’

Despite that, Club Brugge have continued to remain competitive by remaining loyal to their principles of developing and giving opportunities to young players. 

They’ve got the best attack in Belgium, with 78 goals, thanks to Igor Thiago’s exploits (28 goals so far for the striker who’ll play for Brentford next season), combined with the talent of Ferran Jutgla, and the experience of players like Hans Vanaken (10 goals, 11 assists), former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignoltet as well as Skov-Olsen (23 goals so far) and center-back Mechele, who featured in over 400 games for the club.

The Blauw-Zwart started their season at the end of July and have only lost seven games since. 

They’ve never got beaten heavily, in fact only once, against Union SG 2-0 in the domestic Cup, they’ve been defeated with more than one goal margin. 

In the Conference League their biggest achievement was to knock out Osasuna in the play-off, but also the recent 2-0 win in Thessaloniki can’t be underestimated.

In a tight game the talent and the creativity of Fiorentina’s best player, Nicolas Gonzalez, can be the key. 

The Argentine winger has had a few injuries this season, but his numbers remain very good: 13 goals and four assists. 

He came off the bench last Sunday, and it only took him eight minutes to score a brace. 

• Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Prediction 3: Nicolas Gonzalez To Score Or Assist (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.20
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 4/10

Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Prediction odds via bet365 as at 15:20, April 29th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Fiorentina vs Club Brugge Team News and Possible Lineups: hosts’ best XI after turnover

Vincenzo Italiano will make eight chances from the formation that beat 5-1 Sassuolo on Sunday. 

All Fiorentina’s main players will return to the starting XI. In fact Andrea Belotti will lead La Viola’s attack. Nico Gonzalez, Beltran and Kouame will support the former Roma striker. 

Mandragora will replace Arthur in midfield, Duncan will play alongside him. In defense Terracciano will be in goal, with captain Biraghi, Dodò and Milenkovic all regaining their places.

Former Bologna player Skov Olsen has recovered from his injury but might only make the bench. Simon Mignolet is still unavailable, so Jackers will continue to play in goal. Nusa and Jutgla will play upfront. Top goal-scorer Igor Thiago will start from the bench. 

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Dodô, Milenković, Martínez Quarta, Biraghi; Duncan, Mandragora; Nico Gonzalez, Beltrán, Kouamé; Belotti.

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Jackers; Sabbe, Ordonez, Balanta; Skoras, Vetlesen, Vanaken, Onyedika, Meijer; Nusa, Jutglà.

Match Stats: La Viola is struggling to find consistency

• Club Brugge haven’t lost in their last eight games.
• The Belgian side have scored at least one goal for 13 consecutive matches
• On average Fiorentina scores 2.08 goals when playing at home and Club Brugge scores 2 goals when playing away.
• Fiorentina have never won back-to-back matches in 2024. 
• When La Viola leads 1-0 at home, they win in 70% of their matches.

Fiorentina Fixtures: a big home game coming up

• Vs Verona (A)
• Vs Club Brugge, Conference League (A)
• Vs Monza (H)
• Vs Napoli (H)
• Vs Cagliari (A)

Club Brugge Fixtures: ending with the derby

• Vs Antwerp (A)
• Vs Fiorentina, Conference League (H)
• Vs Union SG (H)
• Vs Anderlecht (A)
• Vs Cercle Brugge (H)

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