Preview: Fiorentina vs. Maccabi Haifa - prediction, team news, lineups

The first leg in Budapest was rip-roaring for impartial supporters, who hope for more of the same after last week's 4-3 thriller.

Match preview

While last Thursday's 4-3 win was electrifying for the neutral, Vincenzo Italiano must have been unimpressed by the see-saw flow of the game in which his side went ahead after two minutes, then trailed 2-1 and 3-2 before two late goals saw the Italian side claim the win.

Antonin Barak netted the 95th-minute winner, following goals from M'Bala Nzola, Lucas Beltran and Rolando Mandragora at Bozsik Arena, setting up the Viola nicely for the reverse fixture on Thursday.

Despite the oscillating nature of the first fixture, there were positives for Fiorentina, especially their reaction to twice falling behind in the encounter to keep their unbeaten run in this year's competition.

Only Ferencvaros (2-2) have prevented Italiano's men from a European victory in Florence this season, and avoiding defeat against the Israeli side takes them into the competition's last eight.

Having made last year's decider, Fiorentina's mission is to make another final, hoping to end their wait for a continental trophy, and advancing into the quarter-finals means that remains a possibility.

Maccabi are still reeling after last week's events, in which Messay Dego's side twice led but were eventually defeated after conceding twice in the game's final quarter following Manuel Cafumana's dismissal.

Anan Khalaili thought his splendid goal would settle the fixture in Budapest, but goals conceded in the 73rd and 95th minutes saw them fall to a 4-3 loss.

Despite going into the tie in outstanding form, Frantzdy Pierrot was not among the goals in the first leg, even if he set up Khalaili's strike to make it 3-2.

While the away side understands the magnitude of the task heading into Thursday's game, they must go for it after the disheartening loss in the reverse fixture.

The Greens go into their continental fixture on the back of losing in the league to Maccabi Bnei Raina, suffering back-to-back losses in all competitions, having previously gone eight matches in all competitions without defeat, pointing to a dip in results for Dego's men.

Fiorentina Europa Conference League form:

D

W

W

W

D

W

Fiorentina form (all competitions):

L

D

W

D

W

D

Maccabi Haifa Europa Conference League form:

W

D

L

Maccabi Haifa form (all competitions):

D

D

W

W

L

L

Team News

Cafumana was sent off after two yellows in the first-leg loss, and the midfielder will miss Thursday's fixture due to suspension.

Daniel Sundgren received two yellows leading to a red in the playoff round second-leg aggregate success over Gent, causing the defender to miss last week's defeat to Fiorentina, but the defender returns for the reverse fixture in Florence.

Oliver Christensen (knee) is a long-term absentee for the Italian side, while Christian Kouame is out of Thursday's game with a virus.

Nzola and Beltran have three goal contributions, only Luca Ranieri (four) has more, and the forwards should play a significant role in Thursday's game.

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Ranieri, Biraghi; Mandragora, Bonaventura; Ikone, Beltran, Gonzalez; Nzola

Maccabi Haifa possible starting lineup:

Kaiuf; Sundgren, Seck, Gershon; Kandil, Mohamed, Naor, Cornud; Khalaili, Pierrot, Kinda

We say: Fiorentina 3-1 Maccabi Haifa (Fiorentina win 7-4 on aggregate)

Previews by email