The first leg of the 2025/26 Conference League qualifying playoff between Polissya (Ukraine) and Fiorentina (Italy) will take place on August 21 at the Tatran Stadium in Prešov, Slovakia. Polissya vs. Fiorentina: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Polissya
Ruslan Rotan's side has successfully navigated two qualifying rounds: first, they overcame Santa Coloma (1-2, 4-1), and then they knocked out Paks (3-0, 1-2). Polissya is participating in the Conference League for the second time and has played only six matches in this tournament, suffering four defeats (2 wins). However, in their last five matches in the Conference League, the Ukrainians have found the back of the net.
- The club has not lost the second half in their last four Conference League matches (2 wins, 2 draws).
- Both teams scored in 4 of Polissya's last 5 matches in this European competition.
- At least three goals were scored in regular time in the last five matches of the Ukrainians in the Conference League.
Projected lineup for Polissya (4-3-3)
Yevhen Volynets – Nikita Kravchenko, Serhiy Chobotenko, Danilo Beskorovainyi, Bohdan Mykhaylichenko – Talles Costa, Ruslan Babenko, Yaroslav Karaman – Oleksiy Gutsulyak, Andre Goncalves, Mykola Haiduchuk.
Fiorentina
The team finished sixth in the last Serie A season, earning a spot in the Conference League. Interestingly, Fiorentina is participating in this European competition for the fourth consecutive time, having reached at least the semi-finals in the previous three seasons, although the trophy has eluded them. Notably, in their last nine Conference League matches, the club has suffered only two defeats (5 wins, 2 draws), and in 5 of their last 6 matches in this tournament, the Italians have scored at least two goals.
- The team has not won in regular time in 8 of their last 10 away matches in the Conference League (5 draws, 3 losses).
- Both teams scored in Fiorentina's last seven away matches in this European competition.
- At least three goals were scored in regular time in 5 of Fiorentina's last 6 away matches in the Conference League.
Projected lineup for Fiorentina (3-5-2)
David De Gea – Pietro Comuzzo, Marin Pongracic, Luca Ranieri – Dodo, Nicolo Fagioli, Albert Gudmundsson, Simon Zom, Robin Gosens – Edin Dzeko, Moise Kean.
Referee
Aliyar Aghayev (Azerbaijan)
Matches – 9 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 34;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.8;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 44%.
Polissya vs. Fiorentina: Match Prediction
From the Ukrainians, I expect an open game, especially since Polissya has shown high-scoring ability in the current Conference League campaign. The team has scored in all four matches they have played in this tournament, netting a total of nine goals. However, they have also made numerous defensive errors, conceding five goals in the current Conference League, including three against Andorra's Santa Coloma.
Fiorentina prefers attacking football on the European stage and regularly finds the net even on the road. In their last 14 away Conference League matches, the team failed to breach opponents' defenses only twice, and on five occasions during this stretch, they scored at least two goals. At the same time, the Italians can't boast of a reliable defense: in their last seven away matches in this European competition, Fiorentina has not kept a clean sheet and has conceded 12 goals.
I anticipate a high-scoring encounter, and my prediction: Total over 2.5 goals
* The starting lineup for each team is based on their previous match.
