Florence, a city synonymous with art, history, and a certain shade of purple, now turns its gaze towards the European stage. Following a compelling playoff run, Fiorentina finds itself among the contenders in the UEFA Conference League, with a draw that promises both familiar challenges and intriguing new encounters. Let`s peel back the layers of this draw, dissecting each opponent and what they might bring to the Tuscan table.
Fiorentina looks to make a deep run in the Conference League, facing a diverse set of European opponents.
A Mixed Bag from the Urn: Old Foes and New Horizons
The Conference League draw, often described as a lottery, has dealt Fiorentina a fascinating hand. From “forgotten exes” to potentially historic first-time clashes, Vincenzo Italiano`s side will traverse a continent eager to make its mark. Notably, one name on the list, Lausanne, carries a nostalgic resonance for the Viola faithful, being the club where Fiorentina legend Giancarlo Antognoni concluded his illustrious career. One can only imagine the thoughts flitting through “Antonio`s” mind as his beloved Viola steps onto Swiss soil.
Beyond this sentimental journey, the draw presents a diverse array of adversaries: Rapid Vienna, Dynamo Kyiv, AEK Athens, Mainz, and Sigma Olomouc. Each brings its own unique flavor of European football, promising a challenging yet captivating group stage for the Italian club.
The Contenders: A Closer Look at Fiorentina`s Group Stage Rivals
Rapid Vienna: A Fresh Memory and Relentless Spirit
For Fiorentina, Rapid Vienna isn`t just another name from the hat; it`s a recent, almost visceral memory. Just two seasons prior, these two sides locked horns in a Conference League qualifier. The Austrians claimed a narrow 1-0 home victory, only for Fiorentina to stage a dramatic 2-0 comeback in the return leg, courtesy of a Nico Gonzalez brace. This time, however, Rapid Vienna arrives with a refreshed lineup and a reputation for sheer tenacity.
Their attacking prowess now features the intriguing partnership of Antiste (formerly of Sassuolo and Spezia) and the potent Claudy M`Buyi, a striker who found the net 21 times last season for St-Pölten and has seamlessly adapted to his new white-and-green colors with 4 goals in his first 10 appearances. Young Norwegian talent Petter Dahl (2003-born) also promises to be a handful from the flanks, already boasting 4 goals this season. Defensively, the French-Serbian duo of Yao and Cvetkovic provides a more seasoned foundation.
What truly defines Rapid Vienna, though, is their indomitable spirit. They’ve already twice stared down elimination in this season’s qualifiers, once coming back from a 0-2 deficit at halftime against Dundee to win on penalties, and then overturning a first-leg loss against Hungarian side Gyor. Fiorentina will need to be wary; these Austrians simply refuse to die quietly.
Dynamo Kyiv: A Shadow of Their Former Selves, Yet Still Dangerous
The name Dynamo Kyiv once struck fear into the hearts of European giants. While their current form might paint a less intimidating picture – having fallen short in both Champions League (surprisingly losing to Pafos) and Europa League (exiting against Maccabi Tel Aviv) – they remain a force not to be underestimated in the Conference League. Their domestic season has begun brightly with 9 points from 3 games, suggesting a team capable of finding its rhythm.
Under the stewardship of club legend Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, Dynamo operates with a predominantly Ukrainian core. The sole foreign outlier in their attack is Guerrero from Panama. However, all eyes will be on the ever-green Andriy Yarmolenko, who, at 36, continues to defy age, having reached double digits in goals last season. Then there’s the dynamic Vladyslav Vanat, a talent reportedly pursued by Inter Milan last summer, who opted to stay and repaid Dynamo with 21 goals. Despite their recent European woes, Kyiv possesses individual quality that could pose significant problems.
AEK Athens: The Boiling Cauldron and a Familiar Face
For Fiorentina, the prospect of playing AEK Athens at home carries a dual significance. Firstly, it allows them to avoid the notoriously hostile atmosphere of AEK`s home stadium, a venue that has propelled the Greek side through three consecutive qualifiers this season, including a dramatic victory over Anderlecht. AEK remains undefeated on home turf this year, making their ground a genuine fortress. Secondly, and perhaps more poignantly, it was in Athens where Fiorentina suffered their heartbreaking Conference League final defeat in May 2024. A home fixture against AEK offers a chance to rewrite that painful memory, or at least avoid a repeat performance on the same ground.
The Greek side now features a familiar, if somewhat infamous, face for Viola fans: Luka Jović. The striker, whose tenure in Florence three years prior was, shall we say, less than stellar, has found a new home in Athens and already registered a Conference League goal against Aris. Another former Serie A player, ex-Cagliari midfielder Marin, has quickly become a pivotal figure in AEK`s midfield. Between the sticks, ex-Lazio keeper Strakosha patrols, while former Juventus and Udinese player Pereyra and Croatian international Domagoj Vida anchor the defense. Adding a touch of trivia, their reserve goalkeeper is none other than Alberto Brignoli, famous for scoring against Milan many years ago.
Despite their strong home record, AEK`s recent domestic history shows vulnerabilities, notably a crushing 0-6 defeat in the Greek Cup to Olympiacos and a fourth-place finish in the Super League playoffs, relegating them to the Conference League despite being second at the end of the regular season. This inconsistency makes them an unpredictable, yet potentially dangerous, opponent.
Mainz: Bundesliga Pedigree and Attacking Flair
German efficiency, often clinical, sometimes miraculous, describes Mainz 05 perfectly. They demonstrated this by overturning an away defeat against Rosenborg to secure their spot in the Conference League group stage. Their sixth-place finish in the Bundesliga last season, remarkably ahead of Leipzig, was largely thanks to the 18 goals from Burkardt, who has since moved to Eintracht for €20 million. Filling those boots falls to Benedikt Hollerbach, acquired from Union Berlin.
Even without Burkardt, Mainz boasts considerable attacking talent. The Korean maestro Jae-Sung Lee provides creativity on the left, while the 22-year-old talent Nebel, already valued at over €20 million after hitting double digits last season, occupies the right flank. In midfield, fans with good memories might recall Nadiem Amiri, who had a brief stint at Genoa four years ago. The defense is a well-oiled machine, commanded by the experienced 34-year-old Bell, alongside former Dortmund man Maloney and another Serie A alumnus, Silvan Widmer. Mainz will present a robust, well-drilled challenge.
Sigma Olomouc: Echoes of European Past
The Czech Republic`s representative, Sigma Olomouc, arrives in the Conference League after a less-than-stellar Europa League campaign, where they received a five-goal drubbing over two legs from Malmo. Yet, their history hints at greater aspirations. In the early 1990s, Sigma made a name for themselves in the UEFA Cup, reaching the quarterfinals in 1992 (stopped by Real Madrid) and the round of 16 the following season (defeated by Juventus). They now aim to “write new history” with a refreshed squad.
New acquisitions include striker Vasulin from Plzen, who has already netted twice this season. In manager Janotka’s 4-2-3-1 formation, the 2002-born Tkac shines on the left, having scored 9 goals last season for Zilina. An intriguing gamble is Nigerian forward Muhamed Tijani, recruited from Plymouth. These players will be eager to extend their European journey as long as possible, hoping to rekindle the club’s past continental glories.
Lausanne: The Antognoni Connection and Defensive Fortitude
The final name on Fiorentina`s list, Lausanne, carries that unique historical echo for Fiorentina supporters, being the club where legendary midfielder Giancarlo Antognoni ended his playing career in 1987. Since Antognoni`s departure, Lausanne has had its own European adventures, notably facing Lazio in the 1998-99 Cup Winners` Cup (Lazio progressing on away goals before winning the tournament) and Palermo in the 2010-11 Europa League (another Sicilian triumph). These past encounters suggest Swiss teams, while perhaps not always triumphant, can certainly be tricky opponents.
Domestically, Lausanne has been impressive. Their squad features young talent like 2005-born forward Gaoussou Diakite (from Liefering) and the return of ex-Udinese and Atalanta player Brandon Soppy on the wings. In goal, Letica, known to Sampdoria and Spal fans, provides experience. However, their true European prowess has been showcased defensively. In their playoff against Besiktas, despite playing with a man advantage, the formidable central defensive pairing of Sow and Okoh, with a combined age of 44, proved impenetrable. Fiorentina`s forwards, beware: this Swiss outfit is built on a foundation of granite.
Fiorentina’s Conference League journey promises to be a vibrant tapestry of footballing narratives. From battling familiar foes to confronting new challenges and historical echoes, the Viola will need to be at their sharpest. As the fixtures unfold, the nuances of each opponent will reveal themselves, but one thing is certain: European football rarely disappoints in delivering drama, and this group stage is set to be no exception for the Tuscans.