Match Overview and Key Information

The first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League qualification playoff is set to feature Polissya (Ukraine) and Fiorentina (Italy) on August 21 at the Tatran Stadium in Prešov, Slovakia. This detailed forecast provides an in-depth analysis, current odds, and statistical insights for the clash between Polissya and Fiorentina.

Polissya’s Road to the Playoff

Ruslan Rotan’s side has successfully navigated two qualifying rounds to reach this stage. Their journey began with a challenge against Santa Coloma, overcoming them with a 1:2 away defeat followed by a dominant 4:1 home victory. Subsequently, Polissya eliminated Paks after a strong 3:0 home win, despite a 1:2 away loss in the second leg. This marks Polissya’s second participation in the Conference League, having played only six matches in the tournament so far, recording four losses against two wins. Impressively, the Ukrainian squad has consistently scored in their last five Conference League outings.

Polissya: Recent Performance Trends

• The club has avoided defeat in the second half of their last four Conference League matches, securing two victories and two draws.
• Both teams found the net in 4 out of 5 of Polissya’s most recent matches in this European competition.
• A minimum of three goals were scored in regulation time in five of the Ukrainian team’s last Conference League fixtures.

Polissya’s Anticipated Starting Lineup (4-3-3)*

Yevhen Volynets – Mykyta Kravchenko, Serhiy Chobotenko, Danylo Beskorovainyi, Bohdan Mykhailichenko – Talles Costa, Ruslan Babenko, Yaroslav Karaman – Oleksiy Hutsuliak, André Gonçalves, Mykola Haiduchyk.

Fiorentina’s European Ambitions

The Italian club secured their Conference League berth by finishing sixth in the previous Serie A season. Notably, this is Fiorentina’s fourth consecutive appearance in this European competition. In their three prior seasons, “La Viola” reached at least the semi-finals, though they are still chasing their first trophy in the tournament. Over their last nine Conference League matches, the club has suffered only two defeats (registering five wins and two draws), and they have scored at least two goals in five of their last six matches in this competition.

Fiorentina: Key Statistical Insights

• The team has not secured a win in regulation time in 8 of their last 10 away matches in the Conference League (comprising 5 draws and 3 losses).
• Both teams managed to score in seven of Fiorentina’s most recent away games in this European competition.
• At least three goals were scored in regular time in 5 of the last 6 away encounters for the Italian side in the Conference League.

Fiorentina’s Projected Starting XI (3-5-2)*

David De Gea – Pietro Comuzzo, Marin Pongračić, Luca Ranieri – Dodô, Nicolò Fagioli, Albert Gudmundsson, Simon Sohm, Robin Gosens – Edin Džeko, Moise Kean.

Referee Spotlight: Aliyar Aghayev

Aliyar Aghayev (Azerbaijan) will be the head official for this match.

Referee’s Historical Performance

Matches officiated – 9 (International fixtures, 2024/25–2025/26);

Yellow cards issued (including second yellows) – 34;

Average yellow cards per match – 3.8;

Red cards issued – 1;

Average fouls per match – 26;

Penalties awarded – 44%.

Main Match Prediction: Polissya vs Fiorentina

Polissya’s Attacking Approach and Defensive Concerns

From my perspective, Polissya is expected to adopt an open and aggressive playing style, especially considering their notable attacking output earlier in the current Conference League campaign. The team has consistently found the back of the net in all four matches played so far in this tournament, accumulating a total of nine goals. However, the club has also demonstrated vulnerabilities in their defensive third, conceding five goals in the current Conference League, including three against modest Santa Coloma from Andorra.

Fiorentina’s Offensive Strength and Defensive Vulnerabilities

Fiorentina generally prefers an offensive approach in European competitions and has a strong record of scoring regularly, even in away fixtures. In their last 14 away matches in the Conference League, the team failed to break the opponent’s defense only twice. Furthermore, on five occasions during this period, their players scored at least two goals. Conversely, the Italian side’s defense has not been consistently reliable: in their seven most recent away matches in this European competition, Fiorentina has not kept a single clean sheet and has conceded a total of 12 goals.

Final Betting Recommendation

I anticipate a high-scoring encounter, and my ultimate prediction for this match is: “Total Over 2.5 goals” with competitive odds of 1.75

Author Information

Author: Dmitry Shchurko

Important Note

* The indicated starting lineup for each team is based on their formation from their most recent match.