As Vitoria prepare to host Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League, both teams are expected to ring the changes in their line-up for Thursday’s crucial encounter. Vitoria manager Rui Borges is likely to continue his rotation strategy between domestic and European competitions.
Nuno Santos emerges as a key player to watch after his impressive performance in the previous European fixture, where he provided two assists and formed an effective partnership with Nelson Oliveira. His involvement is anticipated to be significant in the upcoming match.
The home side faces some defensive challenges, with Toni Borevkovic and Bruno Gaspar side-lined through injury. While Venezuela defender Mikel Villanueva has recently returned from a layoff, this could impact Vitoria’s defensive configuration.
Fiorentina’s Raffaele Palladino is also expected to shuffle his squad, potentially resting key players like Moise Kean and David de Gea. However, the competitive nature of the match might influence his selection approach.
A notable storyline is Jonathan Ikone, who has been a standout performer in the Conference League. Despite limited Serie A playing time, the French forward has netted four goals in the competition and is set to start in northern Portugal.
The visitors arrive with a nearly fully-fit squad, with the sole exception of midfielder Edoardo Bove, who continues to recover following a recent cardiac incident.
Vitoria de Guimaraes (4-3-3):
Varela; Baio, Rivas, Villanueva, Mendes; G. Silva, Manu, T. Silva; Kaio, Oliveira, Santos
Fiorentina (4-2-3-1): Terracciano; Dodo, Martinez Quarta, Ranieri, Parisi; Richardson, Mandragora; Ikone, Beltran, Sottil; Kouame
