Plzenvs.Fiorentina

Miroslav Koubek's men are thriving on his third spell at the club, and the experienced manager is keen to claim a shock win over last season's runners-up.

Match preview

While most of the attention has been on Unai Emery's Aston Villa and Vincenzo Italiano's Fiorentina in this season's Conference League, Viktoria Plzen have quietly gone about their business to become one of the outsiders for success this year.

The Czech side are undefeated in this year's competition after eight games in the competition proper — 14 matches if the three qualifying ties are included — and were the only side to finish the group stage unblemished after six games.

Their run has been aided by an outstanding defensive record that has seen Koubek's troops prevent opponents from scoring in 11 of their 14 fixtures, with only Astana finding the back of the net against Viktoria since the group phase.

Despite being outshot in both games against Servette in the round of 16, the Czech side were beneficiaries of Martin Jedlicka's shot-stopping as the goalkeeper made nine stops in 120 minutes at Doosan Arena before making two penalty stops.

Another busy evening against Fiorentina could ensue on Thursday, and Koubek may need another top showing from his man between the sticks if the Viola get past Viktoria's backline.

While the Czech side have found the net in all but two games in the Conference League proper — both round of 16 fixtures — this tie is undoubtedly attack vs defence owing to the Italian club's penchant for finding the back of the net and the hosts' defensive strength.

Italiano's men have only failed to score once in Europe this term when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Rapid Vienna in the first leg of their playoff round to determine group-stage participation. A 2-0 win in the reverse fixture meant it was only a bump in the road for the Viola, who claimed a 2-1 aggregate triumph.

However, Fiorentina struggling for away clean sheets means the Serie A side leave the door open to the opposition. Victoria aim to capitalise on the visitors, who have kept one shutout in five road matches (including the playoff round), notably conceding twice at Genk and letting in three in the round of 16 win against Maccabi Haifa in Budapest.

Italiano knows the Czech side pose a genuine threat to his team's prospects of making a deep run in the competition, and the coach hopes his team overcome another obstacle in the club's ambition to right last year's disappointing culmination that ended in cup final defeats in the Conference League and Coppa Italia.

With the Viola unlikely to make European competition next season via the league — they sit 10th in Serie A, seven points adrift of Atalanta — Fiorentina may have to win either their domestic cup or triumph in Europe to play on the continent next term.

Viktoria Plzen Europa Conference League form:

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Viktoria Plzen form (all competitions):

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Fiorentina Europa Conference League form:

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Fiorentina form (all competitions):

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Team News

It remains to be seen if Jan Sykora and Jhon Mosquera play any part due to recent knee and head injuries, respectively. However, Erik Jirka (groin), Rafiu Durosinmi and Matej Valenta (both knee) are not expected to feature in the quarterfinal first-leg clash.

Tomas Chory is Viktoria's leading scorer in the Conference League, and the forward hopes to add to his three goals this week.

Having welcomed back Dodo from a severe knee injury, Italiano has no reported injury absentee for Thursday. It remains to be seen if the right-back starts, as he has been eased back in since returning.

Lucas Beltran (three goals) is joint-top scorer for Fiorentina — along with Luca Ranieri and Antonin Barak — and Fiorentina hope the forward comes up trumps at Doosan Arena.

Viktoria Plzen possible starting lineup:

Jedlicka; Kopic, Dweh, Hranac, Jamelka, Cadu; Cerv, Kalavach, Vydra; Chory, Sulc

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

Terraciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Ranieri, Biraghi; Bonaventura, Mandragora; Gonzalez, Beltran, Sottil; Belotti

We say: Viktoria Plzen 1-1 Fiorentina

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