GENTALAMEDIA.COM – Viktoria Plzen vs Fiorentina prediction in continuation UEFA Conference Leagueunbeaten Viktoria Plzen look to continue that streak when they face Fiorentina in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-finals at Doosan Arena on Tuesday.
Miroslav Koubek’s side are thriving in his third spell at the club, and the experienced manager is looking to pull off a shock win over last season’s runners-up.
While most of the attention has been on Unai Emery’s Aston Villa and Vincenzo Italiano’s Fiorentina in the Conference League this season, Viktoria Plzen have been quietly going about their business to be one of the outsiders to achieve success this year.
The Czech team is unbeaten in this year’s competition after eight games in the competition — 14 if you include three qualifying games — and is the only team to finish the group stage with a perfect record after six games.
Their run has been aided by a superb defensive record which has seen Koubek’s men prevent opponents from scoring in 11 of their 14 matches, with only Astana having scored against Viktoria since the group stages.
Despite losing both games against Servette in the round of 16, the Czech side benefited from Martin Jedlicka’s shot-stopping as the goalkeeper made nine saves in 120 minutes at Doosan Arena before making two penalty stops.
Another busy night against Fiorentina could be on the cards on Thursday, and Koubek may need another top performance from the goalkeeper if the Viola are to get past Viktoria’s back line.
Although the Czech team has scored goals in all but two games in the Conference League — both round of 16 matches — this match is undoubtedly an attack vs. defense match due to the Italian club’s propensity for scoring goals and the hosts’ defense. strength.
Italiano’s men have only failed to score once in Europe this season, when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Rapid Vienna in the first leg of the playoffs to determine group stage participation. The 2-0 win in the previous match was only a challenge for the Viola, who achieved a 2-1 aggregate win.
However, Fiorentina’s struggles to keep a clean sheet away from home means the Serie A side are leaving the door open for the opposition. Viktoria aims to capitalize on the visitors, who have recorded just one shutout in five away games (including the playoffs), most notably conceding twice at Genk and conceding three times in the last-16 win against Maccabi Haifa in Budapest.
Italiano knows the Czech outfit pose a real threat to his side’s prospects of going far in the competition, and the coach hopes his side can overcome another obstacle in the club’s ambitions to improve on last year’s disappointing finish which ended in defeat in the Conference cup final. League and Coppa Italia.
As the Viola are unlikely to take part in European competition next season through the league – they sit 10th in Serie A, seven points adrift of Atalanta – Fiorentina will probably have to win a domestic cup or triumph in Europe to play on the continent next season.
It remains to be seen whether Jan Sykora and Jhon Mosquera take part due to recent knee and head injuries. However, Erik Jirka (groin), Rafiu Durosinmi and Matej Valenta (both knees) are not expected to feature in the quarter-final first leg.
Tomas Chory is Victoria’s top goalscorer in the Conference League, and the forward will be hoping to add to his three goals this week.
After welcoming Dodo back from a serious knee injury, Italiano was not reported to be out due to injury on Thursday. It remains to be seen whether the right-back will start, as he has been reinstated since his return.
Lucas Beltran (three goals) is the joint top scorer for Fiorentina — along with Luca Ranieri and Antonin Barak — and Fiorentina will hope the striker emerges victorious at the Doosan Arena.(sportsmole/ed)
Viktoria Plzen vs Fiorentina player predictions
Viktoria Plzen: Jedlicka; Kopic, Dweh, Hranac, Jamelka, Cadu; Cerv, Kalavach, Otter; Sick, Sulc
Fiorentina: Terraciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Ranieri, Biraghi; Bonaventura, Mandragora; Gonzalez, Beltran, Sottil; Belotti
Viktoria Plzen vs Fiorentina Score Prediction: 1-1