Viktoria Plzen vs Fiorentina Prediction 11.04.2024

• Competition: UEFA Europa Conference League - Quarter-Finals 1st Leg
• Date: Thursday, 11th, April 2024
• Kickoff: 17:45 UTC +1 / 18.45 CEST
• Venue: Doosan Arena (Plzen)

Hosting last year's competition runners-up, Victoria Plzen will welcome Fiorentina to the Czech Republic for the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final clash on Thursday.

Viktoria Plzen vs Fiorentina Betting Tips: BTTS

Ahead of a rigorous European exam midweek, Plzen failed to generate any positive momentum as they played out a dull goalless draw 0-0 against second-to-last-placed Karvina away from home, following their earlier dismantling at the hands of Liberec 1-3.

On the brighter side amid these disappointing league results, Miroslav Koubek's side managed to secure a spot in the semifinals of the domestic cup by cruising past Jablonec in a commanding 3-0 victory, setting up a showdown with Czech First League's third-bottom Zlin side in their quest for a place in the final.

When it comes to their performance on the continental stage, Viktoria Plzen has produced remarkable results, as they have not tasted defeat in any of their 13 UECL outings this season - emerging victorious on 11 occasions and sharing the spoils three times - two of which were seen against Servette, whom they knocked out on penalties with a 3-1 scoreline after goalless draws in both legs.

With the domestic top-flight title absolutely out of reach, as they trail Prague giants Slavia and Sparta by 12 and 13 points respectively, the Brewers will shift their focus towards European glory, aiming to carve their path to success through their rock-solid defense, which has kept opponents off the scoresheet in 11 out of 14 European matches.

Standing in their European path is a Fiorentina side, whose European aspirations have continued to slide downhill as they extended their chaotic winless streak to four Serie A matches with a solitary 0-1 loss in Turin against Juve, leaving them with almost no choice but to go all-in on the UEFA Conference League in hopes of clinching it.

Last season, the Viola came within a whisker of lifting the trophy in UEFA's third-tier competition, as they were outplayed 1-2 by West Ham in the final, but the Tuscan outfit has a fairly clear path to at least replicate last year's feat, for if they navigate past Plzen, they will face the victor from the Club Brugge versus PAOK clash.

Despite their recent form not hitting its peak as they head to Plzen, Vincenzo Italiano's troops hold on to a slim 1-0 victory over Atalanta in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals as their sole success in the last five outings across all competitions, yet, the Viola believe they will return from the Czech Republic with a positive result, having never allowed themselves to be outclassed by any opposition in that country (W5, D2).

When playing away from home, Fiorentina struggles to keep a clean sheet, as evidenced by just two shutouts in their last 12 away trips, but their attacking prowess often bails them out of trouble, especially on the European stage, having found the back of the net in all but one of their last 10 matches at that level of football. Hence, even though they've been rock-solid at the back throughout the tournament, it's unlikely that Plzej will be able to keep the attack-minded Italians at bay, making a share of the spoils with goals in both nets the best bet for this one.