Fiorentina
- Fiorentina are 16th in Serie A (24 points from 26-27 games).
- Paolo Vanoli has done a solid job in managing Fiorentina’s transition since taking over in November 2025, implementing pragmatic 3-4-2-1 and 3-5-2 systems that make use of wing-backs to provide width and focus on controlled build-up and a compact defense when out of possession.
- Nicolò Fagioli is the engine in Fiorentina’s midfield, providing the link between defense and attack, while Dodô and Rolando Mandragora bring balance to the first team.
Raków
- Raków are 5th in Poland’s Ekstraklasa (34 points from 22 games) and have had a more consistent campaign than Fiorentina.
- Raków are a possession-based team, playing a high-energy 3-4-3 system with wing-backs and lots of players in the final third.
- Their counter-attacking and pressing game is the biggest threat to Fiorentina on Thursday, while the hosts will need to keep an eye on set-piece plays and wide play too.
Key Players
- Moise Kean, Fiorentina’s top scorer with around 8 goals in Serie A, has not been in his best form of late with the team in a rough patch.
- Jonatan Braut Brunes is Raków’s main goal scorer with a double-digit tally, while Leonardo Rocha can provide finishing power and Michael Ameyaw is their most reliable provider.
Betting Insights
- With Fiorentina as short as 1.69 to win this UEFA Conference League 2025-2026 Round of 16 first leg against a supposedly unknown Polish side, it makes sense to take a bit of an underdog bet on Raków Czestochowa at 4.75 or at least insure the bet with the draw at 3.75.
- La Viola have too much quality to not edge a close game at home, but there is a strong case to be made that this will be a tense affair, so under 2.5 goals looks the best bet at 1.93.
Prediction
- The contrast between Fiorentina’s pragmatic, possession-based style and Raków’s high-energy pressing and transition-based approach should make for an interesting game, with the wide areas and set-pieces likely to be pivotal.
- Raków can keep it tight and nick a draw, but the quality in the Fiorentina squad should be enough to eke out a win here, albeit in a low-scoring game.
