Fiorentina

I’ve horrible information, everybody. It’s Convention League time, so you need to watch Fiorentina twice this week. I apologize. Up this time is Dynamo Kyiv. This would be the seventh assembly between these two, with the great guys holding a W3 D3 document. Final time we noticed them was the 2014-2015 Europa League quarterfinals, once they eased by with out an excessive amount of issue. The excellent news is that the Blue and Whites haven’t been nice this yr, sitting sixth within the Premier League and simply snapped a 4-game shedding streak with a troublesome win at Kudrivka, the primary for newly-appointed supervisor Igor Kostyuk.

The match can be performed on Thursday, 11 December 2025, at 17:45 GMT/12:45 PM EST, on the Stadio Artemio Franchi in stunning Firenze. The forecast requires a crisp, surprisingly heat night, though I wouldn’t anticipate an enormous turnout within the stadium; Viola followers haven’t stuffed the stadium for Convention League video games so far and, given the abject state of the crew, I’d anticipate quite a lot of empty seats.

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Three issues to look at for1. What Vanoli modifications

Paolo Vanoli after Saturday’s implosion towards Sassuolo about how tactical tweaks don’t make any distinction for a crew with a woeful mentality. He’s not flawed, after all, and there’s solely a lot he can do—the gamers are grown-ass professionals and must take some satisfaction—however the mister must do extra to sign to those guys that the Stefano Pioli period is over. Working out the identical lineups and enjoying the identical fashion means there’s no actual dividing line between him and his predecessor and that’s been an issue.

There have been rumors a couple of transfer to final week however Vanoli opted to stay with the three. Relying on how Fiorentina prioritizes the Convention League, this might be the proper time to do one thing totally different. If the plan is to surrender on Serie A and attempt to win a trophy (unlikely however I suppose vaguely believable), the mister might go for continuity over experimentation, though continuity with Fiorentina’s present method would imply shedding within the least inspiring manner doable.

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If as a substitute the plan is to double down on the league (lol), the Convention League turns into a tactical sandbox. A 4-4-2 with fullbacks doubled up out vast? Jacopo Fazzini and Albert Guðmundsson as wingers? Some actual minutes for Amir Richardson and the Primavera guys? I imply, why not? It’s not just like the Viola have something to lose by getting bizarre right here, and possibly Vanoli stumbles on one thing workable. I’m greedy at straws right here, clearly, however I’d fairly see the membership get relegated whereas flailing desperately to seek out one thing that works than slide into Serie B with out even attempting one thing new.

2. Shutting down a rightback

Dynamo Kyiv’s greatest participant this yr has been rightback Oleksandr Karavaev, who’s bought 4 targets and 5 assists this yr. At 33, he’s nonetheless bought the legs to stand up and down the road, however he’s additionally a very clever and skilled participant (50 Ukraine caps) whose supply from the wing has been wonderful and who is aware of when to get into the field. It sounds bizarre, however particularly with membership captain and artistic hub Vitaliy Buyalskyi (7 targets, 5 assists) injured, Karavaev stands out as the most harmful participant within the crew.

Fiorentina might have bother monitoring him; a 3-5-2 up towards a 4-3-3 (Dynamo’s most well-liked form) typically leaves the opposing fullbacks with quite a lot of freedom. Vanoli may decide to maintain Luca Ranieri vast towards Dynamo’s proper winger and push the wingback (Robin Gosens or Fabiano Parisi) as much as Karavaev; alternatively, the wingback might take Dynamo’s winger and the left central midfielder (Simon Sohm or Cher Ndour) will push vast to select up the fullback. That battle is the one I’m watching greater than anything.

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3. Transitions

Yeah, that’s very obscure. I do know. However that is the place the sport can be gained and misplaced. Neither Fiorentina nor Dynamo is sweet at breaking down a deep block and each will prioritize hustling again into their respective relaxation defenses upon shedding the ball fairly than attempting to win it again instantly. To my thoughts, whichever crew is best at resetting itself after conceding possession can have create extra possibilities.

The Blue and Whites aren’t significantly fast on the again and have struggled to trace speedy attackers all yr, though they’ve bought quite a lot of measurement and aerial skill. That ought to arrange properly for Moise Kean and even Roberto Piccoli, who will each have a big benefit by way of tempo. Getting the ball excessive rapidly for them to assault can be Fiorentina’s precedence, and by way of personnel, the hosts have a giant benefit.

That cuts each methods, although. The Ukrainians have appeared very environment friendly on the break at occasions, attacking with good width and clever angles. Wingers Nazar Voloshyn and Vladyslav Kabaev are fast, direct gamers who can get in behind, whereas striker Eduardo Guerrero will drift round, trying to mix along with his fellow attackers and create overloads. I’d anticipate Vanoli to prioritize controlling the sport with quite a lot of deep possession to attenuate Dynamo’s alternatives to interrupt, however these alternatives will come up and the way Fiorentina copes can be decisive.

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Potential lineups

Fiorentina (3-5-1-1): de Gea; Viti, Marí, Pongračić; Gosens, Sohm, Fagioli, Ndour, Fortini; Fazzini, Piccoli ||| Dynamo Kyiv (4-3-3): Nescheret; Vivcharenko, Thiaré, Mykhavko, Karavaev; Shaparenko, Mykhalenko, Pikhalyonok; Voloshyn, Guerrero, Kabaev

Ted’s Memorial Blind Guess Division

Not sufficient folks have guess towards Fiorentina as a result of the bookies nonetheless have them as huge favorites; any punter might’ve made a small fortune going the opposite manner this yr. Dynamo Kyiv hasn’t been good this yr and Kostyuk has a pair important absences however c’mon, man. Solely one among these groups has really gained a recreation up to now month and it ain’t the one from Italy. Regardless of the respective rankings within the League Section of the Convention League Actual European TournamentTMSM®©℗—Fiorentina seventeenth, Dynamo twenty seventh—there’s no manner the guests must be underdogs, a lot much less underdogs of this magnitude.

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And since I’m even dumber than the bookies, I’ll decide Fiorentina to provide Paolo Vanoli his first win. I’m anticipating a wacky recreation comprised of durations of unwatchable stodginess interspersed with lightning fast counterattacks. Give me the Viola in a 3-1 win with Piccoli scoring one by tripping over the ball and by accident heading it in, Ndour popping as much as slot house on the break, and Gosens heading house from a nook, with Guerrero netting on the different finish from a set piece state of affairs. I’m additionally anticipating some very bodily play, so don’t be shocked to see some playing cards and varied shenanigans.

Forza Viola!