As the UEFA Conference League resumes action, Fiorentina travels to Switzerland to face St Gallen at Kybunpark on Thursday evening. The Italian side, finalists in the last two editions of the competition, look to build on their strong start to the group stage against a St Gallen team that has struggled in recent weeks.
After a shaky start to their Serie A campaign under new manager Raffaele Palladino, Fiorentina has found their footing in recent weeks. Their 2-0 victory over The New Saints in their Conference League opener seemed to spark a revival, with the Viola following up with impressive wins against AC Milan and a 6-0 thrashing of Lecce.
Now sitting fifth in Serie A, just six points off the top, Fiorentina enters this fixture with momentum and confidence. Their recent form suggests they’ve adapted well to Palladino’s tactics, blending defensive solidity with attacking flair.
In stark contrast, St Gallen’s Conference League campaign got off to a disastrous start with a 6-2 defeat to Cercle Brugge. This heavy loss, coupled with their recent domestic form – winless in four games and coming off a 2-1 loss to Basel – paints a picture of a team in crisis.
However, St Gallen’s home record in European qualifiers this season offers a glimmer of hope. They went undefeated through three Conference League qualifiers at Kybunpark, suggesting they might be able to raise their game for this high-profile encounter.
Fiorentina are expected to rotate their squad with an eye on Sunday’s Serie A clash against Roma. However, they still boast considerable depth. Yacine Adli, who scored against both The New Saints and his parent club AC Milan, could be crucial in midfield. The return of defenders Luca Ranieri, Pietro Comuzzo, and Lucas Martinez Quarta from UEFA bans provides additional options at the back.
For St Gallen, Willem Geubbels, their leading scorer in the Swiss Super League, will be key to their attacking hopes. Bastien Toma, the former Switzerland Under-21 captain, has been a creative force with four assists this season and two goals in Conference League qualifiers.
Palladino has shown tactical flexibility since taking over at Fiorentina, often adapting his formation to suit the opposition. Against a potentially vulnerable St Gallen defense, he may opt for an attacking approach, possibly utilizing a 4-2-3-1 formation to exploit spaces in wide areas.
St Gallen manager Enrico Maassen faces a dilemma. His team’s recent defensive frailties suggest a more cautious approach might be wise, but playing at home in a must-win game could push them towards a more aggressive stance.
While this is the first competitive meeting between these two sides, Fiorentina’s recent European pedigree gives them a significant edge. Their experience in navigating the Conference League, having reached the final in the past two seasons, should prove invaluable.
Team News
Despite maintaining consistency in Fiorentina’s recent Serie A victories, manager Raffaele Palladino is expected to implement significant lineup changes for the midweek fixture, keeping in mind the upcoming clash with Roma on Sunday.
Palladino returns to the sidelines following his Serie A suspension. The defensive unit receives a boost with Luca Ranieri, Pietro Comuzzo, and Lucas Martinez Quarta all available after serving their UEFA suspensions.
However, Fiorentina faces some setbacks. Icelandic forward Albert Gudmundsson is sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained last weekend, joining Marin Pongracic on the injury list. Key players like Moise Kean are likely to be given a rest.
On the St Gallen side, their top league scorer Willem Geubbels, who scored in their recent match against Basel, is expected to spearhead their attack once again.
Former Switzerland Under-21 captain Bastien Toma will be a key figure in midfield, having already contributed four assists this season and two goals during the Conference League qualifiers.
St Gallen’s injury woes continue with Chadrac Akolo, Betim Fazliji, Gregory Karlen, and Ghanaian center-back Stephan Ambrosius all unavailable due to various injuries.
Expected Starting XIs
St Gallen: Ati-Zigi; Faber, Stanic, Fallci, Yannick; Stevanovic, Quintilla, Gortler; Toma; Mambimbi, Guebbels
Fiorentina: Terracciano; Kayode, Moreno, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Richardson, Adli; Ikone, Beltran, Sottil; Kouame
Match Prediction
This fixture represents a crucial juncture for both teams. For Fiorentina, it’s an opportunity to cement their position at the top of the group and continue their positive momentum. For St Gallen, it’s a chance to revive their European campaign and potentially kickstart a turnaround in their overall form. As the action unfolds at Kybunpark, all eyes will be on whether St Gallen can produce an upset or if Fiorentina will continue their march towards another deep run in the Conference League. Given the contrasting form and quality of the two sides, Fiorentina enter as clear favorites.
Prediction: St Gallen 0-3 Fiorentina
