Conference League: Fiorentina-Celje 2-2, the Viola suffer but conquer the semifinal. Now the challenge to Betis Seville
Precious draw for the lilies against the Slovenian team thanks to goals from Mandragora and Kean. Sparks between the two coaches. The Spanish also draw and await the Viola
Fiorentina is in the Conference League semi-finals after beating Celje (Photo Germogli)
Florence, 17 April 2025 – It will be Betis Seville-Fiorentina (departure on May 1st in Spain, return on May 8th in Florence) the first semi-final of Conference League. After Viola win 2-1 in Slovenia, mister Palladino's team draws (not without suffering) in Florence against Celje in Florence and the Conference League dream continues.
21 photoFiorentina-Celje, photos of the match (Germogli)
Un Pongracic's filtered pass from to Mandrake the ball for the Viola's lead and the midfielder from the Lilies makes the most of it with a precise diagonal: in the 37th minute the Viola are ahead. The first half sees a Fiorentina under pressure, capable of creating opportunities with Kean, Mandragora himself and captain Ranieri with saves by Ricardo Silva. But the Celje Svetlin is far from giving up, forcing De Gea into a fine save by deflecting the ball from a few steps away in the 23rd minute. Delaurier-Chaubet also tries from outside, but De Gea saves. The first half is a Lively Fiorentina, a little more dim in the second half.
The lead goal, however, is not enough and the Slovenians in 11 minutes (54' and 65') they overturn it: first Matko outwits Parisi and scores, then Nemanic scores with a header from a corner. The fear of a comeback, however, does not have time to grip the stadium because in the 66th minute Mandragora (the great protagonist) launches Kean on the left, perfect diagonal and goal of the purple bomber.
Il the final is exciting, Celje attacks but does not conclude, Ranieri and Kean score, but the VAR cancels, it ends 2-2 and the Viola celebrate. In the other quarter the'1-1 between Jagiellonia and Betis Seville qualify the Spanish. The atmosphere was incandescent at the end of the match, with sparks (and something more) between Palladino and the Slovenian coach, Riera.
RELIVE THE LIVE
Viola in the semi-finals, tension at the end of the match between the two coaches
A painful ending for the Viola
Inside Adli and Beltran, outside Gud and Mandragora
Out Parisi and Fagioli, in Gosens and Richardson.
At 75' Ricardo Ilva's blunder, Viola defense stunned, Ranieri scores. The VAR cancels for offside
In the 66th minute, Kean runs away on the left and scores with a diagonal. The VAR decrees the Viola's position is regular
Nemanic heads the ball in the 65th minute
Admonished Mandrake
Folorunsho booked
Viola defensive slumber, Matko launches towards goal and scores
The second half has begun
Teams at half time, Viola ahead 1-0
Mandragora launched towards the net and scores diagonally! 1-0
Chance for the captain, central header, Ricardo Silva saves
Great ball from Gudmundsson for Mandragora, Ricardo Silva saves. It's the 27th minute
Rain falling heavily on the "Franchi"
Slovenian deflects into goal, De Gea saves in the 23rd minute
In the 15th minute, Gud assists Kean, the Viola centre forward forces Ricardo Silva into a diving save
In the 10th minute Pongracic tries with a header from a corner: the ball goes high
Fiorentina-Celje has begun
Teams on the pitch! All set for Fiorentina-Celje
The notes of "Canzone viola" sung by Narciso Parigi start
The race will be refereed by the Portuguese Pinheiro
CELJE (4-2-3-1): Silva; Nieto, Vuklisevic, Nemanic, Karnicnik; Zabukovnik, Kvesic; Delaurier, Seslar, Svetlin; Matko. Coach: Albert Riera
FIORENTINA (3-5-2): De Gea; Pongracic, Comuzzo, Ranieri; Gudmundsson, Kean. Coach: Raffaele Palladino
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