Polissya Zhytomyr — Fiorentina : Match Preview and Prediction for August 21,2025

Polissya Zhytomyr’s Unexpected Rise

Miraculously, Polissya managed to secure a fourth-place finish in the Ukrainian Premier League last season, a result that earned them a spot in the UEFA Conference League.

European Campaign Challenges

Despite their prior experience in this very European competition last season, where “the Wolves” were unceremoniously eliminated in the first round by Olimpija Ljubljana, hopes were high for this year. These hopes surged, especially when they drew Andorra’s Santa Coloma. However, the Ukrainian side surprisingly lost at home with a 1-2 scoreline, despite taking the lead. A deserved wave of criticism followed, given the widely understood level of Andorran football. Ruslan Rotan’s men responded decisively with a convincing 4-1 away victory. In the third round, they faced a more formidable opponent in Paksi FC. The situation was reversed here; Polissya comfortably defeated the Hungarians 3-0 in the first leg, earning widespread praise. Yet, the second leg proved to be a difficult affair, with a 1-2 loss and a few nervous moments for Paksi at 0-2. They narrowly avoided a complete collapse.

Domestic League Form and Recent Struggles

In the Ukrainian Premier League, things haven’t been as smooth for “the Wolves.” Following a dominant 3-0 victory over Karpaty in the opening round, they suffered two consecutive setbacks against Kolos (0-1) and LNZ (0-2). Considering their latest matches across all competitions, Rotan’s squad is currently on a three-game losing streak.

Fiorentina’s Season Kick-off

Unlike their opponent, Fiorentina will play their first official match of the new season tomorrow, having only engaged in preseason fixtures thus far.

Mixed Pre-season Results for “The Viola”

The pre-season preparation for “the Viola” yielded mixed results. While they secured comfortable victories against modest opponents like Grosseto (3-0) and Carrarese (2-0), they struggled when facing stronger teams, recording one defeat and two draws: against Leicester (0-2), Nottingham Forest (1-1), and Manchester United (1-1).

Strategic Transfers and Squad Retention

The Italian club’s management has been active in the transfer market, securing the services of the experienced Edin Džeko (from Fenerbahçe), a couple of promising young talents in Simone Zoma (Parma) and Jacopo Fazzini (Empoli), as well as Robin Gosens (Union Berlin) and Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus). Their primary objective was to retain the core squad, which they have essentially over-achieved.

Conference League Affinity

The Conference League appears to be Fiorentina’s preferred European club competition, much like the Europa League is for Sevilla. However, while the Spanish side has lifted their preferred trophy numerous times, the Italians have twice been eliminated in the semi-finals and, in the season before last, suffered a 0-1 defeat to Olympiacos in the final.