The Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence will play host to a historic moment in Welsh football on Thursday evening, as The New Saints become the first Cymru Premier club to participate in a UEFA group stage competition. Their opponents, Fiorentina, are no strangers to this level, having reached the Europa Conference League final in each of the past two seasons.
After a summer of change that saw Vincenzo Italiano depart and Raffaele Palladino take the reins, Fiorentina have made a stuttering start to their Serie A campaign. The Viola currently sit 13th in the table, with just one win from their opening six matches. A goalless draw in the Derby dell’Arno against Empoli last weekend did little to ease the pressure on Palladino.
However, European competition has been a source of solace for Fiorentina in recent years. They narrowly missed out on glory last season, falling to Olympiacos in the Conference League final. The Tuscan side will be eager to go one better this time around, starting with a convincing performance against their Welsh visitors.
Palladino may use this fixture as an opportunity to rotate his squad, with a crucial Serie A clash against AC Milan looming on Sunday. Star players like Moise Kean and David de Gea could be rested, while the manager may experiment with his formation after switching to a 4-2-3-1 against Empoli.
For The New Saints, this match represents the culmination of years of domestic dominance and gradual progress in European competition. The 16-time Cymru Premier champions have faced elite opposition in the past, including Manchester City and Liverpool, but a trip to Florence marks a new high point for the club.
Craig Harrison’s side navigated a tricky path to reach this stage, overcoming disappointment in Champions League and Europa League qualifying before dispatching Lithuanian side Panevezys in the Conference League playoffs. Now, they face the daunting task of competing in an eight-team league phase against some of Europe’s most established clubs.
The Saints arrive in Italy in good spirits, having bounced back from consecutive league defeats with a thumping 6-1 victory over Newtown at the weekend. That result leaves them fifth in the Cymru Premier table, albeit with games in hand on their rivals.
Team News
For the Viola, Croatian center-back Marin Pongracic and midfielder Rolando Mandragora are doubtful while defenders Luca Ranieri and Pietro Comuzzo are suspended.
TNS forward Jordan Williams is suspended, while star striker Brad Young has recently departed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Orobah, leaving a void in attack.
Expected Starting XIs
Fiorentina:Terracciano; Kayode, Martinez Quarta, Moreno, Biraghi; Adli, Richardson; Ikone, Beltran, Sottil; Kouame
TNS:Roberts; Daniels, Bodenham, Davies, Redmond; Brobbel, Smith, D. Williams; Holden, Oteh, Bradley
Prediction
While The New Saints will be buoyed by the historic nature of this fixture, the gulf in quality between the sides is likely to tell over 90 minutes. Fiorentina’s European pedigree and home advantage should see them secure a comfortable victory, even with a rotated lineup.
Prediction: Fiorentina 3-0 The New Saints
