Conference League: Fiorentina disappoint despite beating Jagiellonia in the conference league playoffs
Fiorentina scraped their way into the Round of 16 of the conference league, advancing on aggregate after a tense tie with Jagiellonia that required extra time. The Tuscan side slumped to a disappointing defeat in the second leg and only secured their spot by netting two vital goals during a tense period of extra time.
Match context and concerns
The progression past Jagiellonia felt more like a fortunate escape than a sporting triumph. For a club with Fiorentina’s European pedigree, needing 120 minutes to navigate this fixture is being viewed as a significant step backward. Rather than a night of celebration, the struggle to overcome the Polish side has raised serious questions about the team’s mental fortitude, and fans and management are expecting far more as the competition intensifies.
Conference League warning signs
The performance was widely described as a massive failure in terms of quality and composure. The Viola were frequently underwhelming and disappointing throughout the contest, lacking the cohesion and the clinical edge required at this level. That lack of spark was particularly baffling given the physical state of the squad; several key players appeared fresh but the team nonetheless failed to pull together when it mattered.
Fiorentina form and domestic note
Despite that European scare, Fiorentina have been one of the form teams in Serie A, with only 3 teams performing better over the past 3 games. The club followed an ugly win over Pisa in the Tuscan derby with what one preview called a big win over Jagiellonia Białystok in the Conference League knockout round last week, a result that has given some hope that the Viola have turned a corner in this accursed season. Still, the recent extra-time required to progress undermines that optimism.
Players returning and Jagiellonia threat
Jagiellonia will be bolstered by the return of two important players from suspension. Adrian Siemieniec will have Captain Taras Romanczuk back, the midfield lynchpin who excels at winning the ball and moving it on, and striker Afimico Pululu, a pressing dynamo whose athleticism, motor and predatory instincts have resulted in 15 total goals this season. Jaga are still top of the Ekstraklasa and will not give up because of a poor 45 minutes in the first leg; if Fiorentina come out playing softly, the Poles will pounce.
Defensive issues and personnel
One persistent problem for Fiorentina has been inexplicable mistakes at the back: bad passes, blown marking assignments and a lack of force. Preventing an early wobble means not doing anything stupid at the back, particularly against a side expected to press early. Dodô is suspended for the Udinese game and will probably get a run here to save Niccolò Fortini for Monday. Robin Gosens is noted as smart and experienced, offering vocal leadership and a presence in both boxes. The real question is central defense: Pietro Comuzzo is expected to start next to Luca Ranieri; the former captain has rediscovered his form of late but the Ginger Prince has fallen off and his technical limitations mean he will be the primary target for Jaga’s pressing.
Selection doubts and squad frustration
Manager Paolo Vanoli faces selection dilemmas and the preview sketched a nightmare scenario if he fields backups and the team becomes complacent: Jaga could grab an early goal, a second before halftime, and turn the tie into a life-or-death struggle. Roberto Piccoli and Jacopo Fazzini are named among the most disappointing players on the roster; both arrived in the summer for significant fees and both were expected to start; unclear in the provided context.
The match preview set a specific fixture for the next home meeting: Thursday, 26 February 2026, at 17: 45 GMT/12: 45 PM EST, at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Firenze. Weather forecasts called for sunny, warm conditions — 17° C/55° F — with no cloud nor a gust of wind, and only about 7000 fans were expected to attend what on paper looked like a dead rubber. A 3-0 scoreline was suggested as a secure outcome on paper, but commentators warned that Fiorentina are not most clubs in knockout rounds and cautioned against complacency.
The conference league run has exposed frailties even as Fiorentina progress. The second-leg defeat and the need for extra time to score two vital goals underline both the vulnerability of the squad and the thin margin that now separates them from a more embarrassing exit.
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