Fiorentina Hosts Celje in Crucial Conference League Quarter-Finals Clash

FLORENCE, Italy — Fiorentina will welcome NK Celje to the Stadio Artemio Franchi for the second leg of their UEFA Conference League quarter-final on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 5:45 p.m. local time. Holding a slim 2-1 lead from the first leg, the Italian side aims to secure a place in the semi-finals as they face the Slovenian champions.

In their initial encounter last week, Fiorentina managed to edge out Celje with a 2-1 victory but not without considerable effort. Despite taking an early lead, the Viola found themselves under pressure as Celje reduced the deficit, forcing several critical saves from goalkeeper David De Gea. The Slovenian underdogs remain optimistic, pledging to capitalize on their performance from the first leg and potentially overturn the deficit.

Fiorentina boasts a strong home record in the tournament, winning all of their matches since the league phase began, including impressive victories over teams like LASK (7-0) and Panathinaikos (3-1). With an average of 3.8 goals scored per game in the tournament, they appear poised to continue their strong form at home against Celje.

Celje, however, is determined to exploit Fiorentina’s high defensive line, aiming to deliver a surprise to the home crowd. Coach Oskar Riera acknowledged the challenge ahead but expressed confidence in his team’s resilience. “We learned a lot from our first match. We’re coming to Florence to play fearlessly and to advance,” Riera stated.

The Slovenian squad comes into the match after recovering from a home defeat to Fiorentina. They regained their winning momentum with a late 2-1 victory against Mura last weekend, score through two goals in the last 20 minutes. This comeback could provide an emotional boost for Celje as they prepare for this decisive clash.

Despite their inexperience in European competitions, Celje finds a way to rally after setbacks. They will aim to carry the energy from their domestic success into Florence, although their previous away performances in the Conference League have been shaky, with only four wins in their last five matches on the road.

Fiorentina’s manager Raffaele Palladino will have to make do without suspended players, including notable contributors like Nicolo Zaniolo. Injuries to Robin Gosens, Andrea Colpani, and others may further limit his options. In contrast, Celje will be missing key player Kucys due to injury, which could hinder their attacking prowess as they rely on other players like Matko and Seslar to step up against a formidable Fiorentina defense.

In the words of Palladino, “We must be vigilant and not underestimate any opponent. This quarter-final is crucial for our ambitions in the tournament.” As both teams gear up for a thrilling encounter with so much at stake, the match is expected to be competitive, with Fiorentina looking to solidify their passage to the semi-finals against an ambitious Celje team.