Fiorentina faces Panathinaikos on March 14, 2025, for the second leg of the UEFA Conference League Round of 16, desperately needing to overcome a 3-2 deficit from the first leg. The match will take place at Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence, starting at 03:00 WIB. The Italian side must secure victory by at least two goals to advance to the quarter-finals.
Fiorentina's recent performance has been shaky, with just two wins out of five matches across all competitions, including three losses and their recent defeat to Panathinaikos. Conversely, the Greek club has been on form lately, winning three of their last five games. Panathinaikos demonstrated their attacking prowess and exploited Fiorentina's defensive weaknesses during the first leg, winning 3-2, with goals from Tetê, Karol Świderski, and Nemanja Maksimović. Fiorentina managed to score twice through Lucas Beltrán and Moise Kean.
Statistical analysis reveals key players, particularly Nicolò Fagioli from Fiorentina and Nemanja Maksimović from Panathinaikos. Fagioli boasts impressive creativity ratings with 62 for creativity, but Maksimović leads defensively with 66 for tackling and 64 for defense attributes. Their performances will likely dictate the midfield’s control and the game’s flow.
Looking at team performances, Fiorentina has scored 20 goals and conceded 11 in their last seven matches of this competition. Their scoring trend indicates most goals occur between the 60th and 75th minutes. On the other hand, Panathinaikos has scored 16 goals and conceded 10, with the majority of their scoring happening between the 45th and 60th minutes.
Historically, the two teams have met just once, and with Panathinaikos’ current aggregate lead, they only need to draw to secure advancement. Fiorentina is expected to start aggressively to net early goals, particularly focusing on players like Moise Kean and Lucas Beltrán. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos will likely adopt a defensive approach to counterattack, relying on their solid away record.
Despite being favorites, Fiorentina's defensive vulnerabilities present opportunities for Panathinaikos to capitalize. Based on the analysis, the prediction for this thrilling encounter is Fiorentina 2, Panathinaikos 1, resulting in a 4-4 tie on aggregate and potential extra time.
Switching gears to another match, Lazio will take on Viktoria Plzeň on the same day to attempt to overturn their 1-2 deficit from the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16. This match is scheduled for 00:45 WIB at Stadio Olimpico, Rome. Lazio has shown mixed results recently but secured a significant win against AC Milan to reaffirm their competitive edge.
The Czechs from Viktoria Plzeň enter this match with solid momentum from their domestic league, recording three wins, one draw, and only one loss from their last five matches. Despite having secured two goals at home against Lazio previously, they will need to reinforce their defensive discipline as they shift their focus to maintaining their aggregate advantage.
Key to Lazio's hopes will be Mattia Zaccagni, who has proven to be pivotal with both offensive and creative contributions scoring 72, versus Lukáš Kalvach from Viktoria Plzeň, whose defensive rating is at 58. Lazio will be without Nicolò Rovella due to suspension, which could weaken their midfield control.
When reviewing their last five matches against each other, both teams held two wins each and one draw. The predictions suggest Lazio, with their home advantage and fans’ support, could edge out Viktoria Plzeň with a predicted final score of 2-0, securing their berth advancement to the quarter-finals.
Finally, Olympique Lyonnais is set to take on FCSB, seeking to capitalize on their 3-1 lead from the first leg match at home, Groupama Stadium, on March 14, 2025, at 03:00 WIB. Lyon has been consistent, winning four of their last five matches and boasting significant advantages, especially against FCSB, whom they previously defeated in their last five encounters.
The key player for Lyon is Thiago Almada, whose performances have been stellar, possessing attributes of 66 ATT, 71 TEC, and 72 CRE, making him a formidable offensive threat. FCSB, on the other hand, has also shown competitive spirit, managing to win three of their last five matches, highlighting their resilience.
Despite FCSB's determined efforts, they face challenges due to key player absences, including Daniel Bîrligea and Darius Olaru. The pressure remains high on FCSB to score early to counter their deficit and avoid leveraging Lyon’s attacking prowess.
Based on statistical data and historical results between the teams, Lyon has stronger offensive capabilities and, with their aggregate lead, is predicted to win with a score of 2-0 against FCSB, advancing smoothly to the next round of the UEFA Europa League 2024/25.
With all these matches lined up, the excitement and unpredictability of European football is palpable as teams battle for progression on such storied grounds.