REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – AUGUST 28: Edin Dzeko of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2025/2026 Play-Off 1st leg match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Polissya Zhytomyr at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on August 28, 2025 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fiorentina in crisis hope to revitalise their fortunes in the Conference League against Rapid Vienna with Edin Dzeko and Roberto Piccoli.
It kicks off at the Weststadion in Vienna at 17.45 UK time (16.45 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Steaua Bucharest-Bologna and Roma-Viktoria Plzen on the Liveblog.
It has been a truly abysmal start to the season for the Viola, who scraped only three draws in seven Serie A matches.
At least their Conference League got off on the right foot, beating Sigma Olomouc 2-0 at home in the opening round.
Moise Kean and Robin Gosens are rested, with Christian Kouame and Tariq Lamptey long-term absentees.
Dzeko and Piccoli form the partnership upfront, with support from Hans Nicolussi Caviglia and Cher Ndour.
Rapid Vienna are missing Claudy Mbuyi, Petter Nosa Dahl and Jakob Schöller, while Oliver Strunz, Tobias Borkeeiet, Jean Marcelin and Noah Bischof are not on the Europa League list.
The Austrians have been on dire form too lately, losing four in a row in all competition, which prompted them to sack their fitness coach and match analyst.
That run included being swept aside 4-1 by Lech Poznan in the opening Conference League tie.
A familiar face is Janis Antiste, on loan from Sassuolo.
These sides met in the Conference League play-offs in 2023, with Fiorentina winning 2-1 on aggregate.
SK Rapid Vienna vs. Fiorentina line-ups
Rapid Vienna: Hedl; Furkan Demir, Ahoussou, Raux-Yao, Horn; Bolla, Amane, Seidl, Antiste; Kara, Wurmbrand
Rapid Vienna bench: Gartler, Goschl, Tilio, Ndzie, Gulliksen, Schaub, Auer, Brunnhofer, Weixelbraun, Groller, Radulovic,
Fiorentina: De Gea; Comuzzo, Pablo Mari, Viti; Fortini, Ndour, Nicolussi Caviglia, Fagioli, Parisi; Dzeko, Piccoli
Fiorentina bench: Lezzerini, Martinelli, Dodo, Pongracic, Ranieri, Sohm, Mandragora, Gudmundsson, Sabiri, Fazzini, Richardson, Kouadio
Ref: Frid (ISR)
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75′ 77
62′ 18
85′ 9
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62′ 43
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87′ 26
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57′ 29
77′ 44
57′ 9
77′ 91
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62′ 17
62′ 14
75′ 21
85′ 41
85′ 6
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57′ 7
57′ 10
77′ 2
77′ 60
87′
