Fiorentina Pulls Off Dramatic Comeback to Secure Draw Against Celje and Advance to Conference League Semi-Finals

Fiorentina faced a challenging contest against Slovenian underdogs NK Celje at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, but they ultimately secured their place in the UEFA Conference League semi-finals with a tense 2-2 draw, advancing 4-3 on aggregate. This victory marked their 10th progression to the semi-finals in the last 11 attempts in UEFA competitions.

Remaining unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions (W4, D2), Fiorentina started brightly, almost taking the lead just 11 minutes in. Marin Pongracic found himself unmarked in the penalty area from a corner, but he sent his header soaring over the crossbar.

As the first half progressed, Celje began to find their rhythm and nearly levelled the tie around the 30-minute mark. Tamar Svetlin unleashed a powerful shot towards the bottom-right corner from inside the box, but he was thwarted by a stunning save from David De Gea.

The best chance for the hosts before the half-time whistle came in the 28th minute when Nicolo Fagioli delivered a perfectly timed chipped pass to Rolando Mandragora. Unfortunately for Fiorentina, Mandragora’s header was brilliantly saved by Ricardo Silva.

However, Fiorentina managed to break the deadlock, with Mandragora finding the net. He instinctively connected with a precise pass from Pongracic, showcasing composure as he placed the ball into the bottom-left corner, leaving a helpless Ricardo Silva in his wake.

The start of the second half was less than ideal for Fiorentina, as Celje equalised in the 54th minute. Aljosa Matko raced onto Mark Zabukovnik’s through ball, expertly finishing with a cool strike into the bottom-right corner.

The balance of the tie shifted again when Celje took the lead in the 66th minute, as Klemen Nemanic executed a spectacular header into the top-left corner.

However, the joy of Albert Riera’s side was short-lived, as Fiorentina quickly regained their lead just a minute later. Moise Kean showcased his skill with a beautifully curled shot into the far bottom-right corner.

The dream run for Celje came to an end—the only Slovenian team to reach the quarter-finals of a major European competition. Instead, Fiorentina managed to maintain their composure, securing their place in the semi-finals and extending their unbeaten run to 12 two-legged ties in the UEFA Conference League.