The Europa Conference League reaches the semi-final stage as Fiorentina host Club Brugge on Thursday.
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The Final Four
With Fiorentina’s Serie A form being something of a mixed bag, the Viola can afford to put all their eggs in a European-shaped basket.
Full European Focus
Although the Europa Conference League is the youngest of UEFA’s trio of club competition, it is already beginning to earn a name for itself and although it was designed to let some of Europe’s lesser nations shine on the big stage, that plan has not really come to fruition.
With this being its third year of operation, you only have to look at the four teams that have reached the final. Roma and West Ham have lifted the trophy, and Feyenoord and Fiorentina have had to make do with being second-best.
A list of four names that have a decent amount of European pedigree to call upon and the last of that quartet find themselves back at the semi-final stage this season and looking to eventually go one better than the season before.
Thursday sees the violet shirts of Fiorentina open their Artemio Franchi Stadium doors to Belgian counterparts Club Brugge and although Vincenzo Italiano’s men have seen a recent uptick in league form, they are not guaranteed a league invite to the continent for next season.
Before their midweek Conference League clash, Fiorentina find themselves lying eighth in the table and although Serie A may earn an extra invite due to the efforts of La Viola and their Calcio counterparts, they are only in that position because of a better goal difference than Napoli.
With that being said, the Florence-based outfit have picked seven points from the last nine on offer and they are carrying some momentum at present. Unfortunately for them, their Belgian opponents are carrying even more.
The Belgian Jupiler Pro League has a format that leaves even the most studious football fans scratching their heads but there is nothing confusing about Club Brugge’s form in the championship phase.
Six games contested by Ronny Delia’s men and although the first of those ended in a draw, it has been plain sailing since. Five wins in a row as the former Celtic manager and his players have sailed to the top of the group.
Admittedly, Club Brugge are the current gold standard when it comes to Belgian football and such a run of impressive results is not to be unexpected. Now though, they will look to do the unexpected and reach this season’s Europa Conference League final.
But now it is time for the first of my two tips, and I think it is going to be first blood to Fiorentina in a rather cautious affair. Caution that comes in the form of a home win and under 2.5 goals in total and this outcome is priced at a tempting 3/1.
In addition to this, going under does not give me too many options in terms of a correct score but it does offer me enough in terms of value for a 2-0 home win. Fiorentina to put one foot in the final and this is priced at a generous 7/1.
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