Fiorentina’s domestic frustrations may continue, but European glory still beckons. After a disappointing 0-0 draw against Serie A strugglers Parma left La Viola outside the top six, their hopes of returning to continental football next season hinge almost entirely on winning the UEFA Conference League. A 2-1 first-leg quarter-final victory over Slovenian side NK Celje has brought them one step closer to that goal—and potentially a spot in the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League.
Raffaele Palladino’s men will take great heart from their impeccable record in this competition. Fiorentina have won all 11 of their previous two-legged ties in the Conference League and progressed from nine of their last ten UEFA quarter-finals. Their home form provides further cause for optimism: they’ve won all four of their main-draw Conference League games at the Stadio Artemio Franchi this season, scoring at least twice in each of them. More broadly, La Viola have claimed six wins in their last eight home matches in all competitions (D1, L1).
While Fiorentina are chasing redemption after back-to-back Conference League final defeats in 2023 and 2024, Celje are navigating uncharted waters. Their 2-1 loss last Thursday marked the first-ever major European quarter-final appearance for any Slovenian side. Yet, the Yellow and Blues kept themselves alive in the tie thanks to a composed 68th-minute penalty, and they bounced back domestically with a 2-1 win over the weekend, boosting their hopes of qualifying for Europe through the league.
However, the road ahead is steep for Celje. They have lost six of their last seven Conference League away matches inside 90 minutes (W1), and a narrow aggregate deficit means they’ll need to defy that form to turn the tie around. Taking the game to penalties may be their best chance—especially after their dramatic shootout victory over Lugano in the previous round—but getting there won’t be easy against a Fiorentina side with a commanding home presence.
Players to Watch:
- David de Gea (Fiorentina): Described as “a stratospheric goalkeeper” by first-leg hero Rolando Mandragora, the veteran Spaniard still has questions to answer—he has yet to keep a clean sheet in four Conference League appearances this season.
- Svit Sešlar (Celje): The lively midfielder was on target over the weekend and has played a decisive role in Celje’s recent away wins in Europe, contributing a goal, two assists, and a booking across his last two Conference League road trips.
Hot Stat: Fiorentina have scored 2+ goals in 11 of their last 12 home matches in the Conference League (W9, D3).
With one foot in the semi-finals, Fiorentina look determined to finally go all the way in Europe’s third-tier competition—while Celje will need a near-perfect performance to keep their Cinderella run alive.
