Fiorentina Storm into Conference League Quarter-Finals with Victory over Panathinaikos

Fiorentina staged a remarkable comeback from a first-leg deficit to secure their spot in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League, triumphing over Panathinaikos 3-1 at Stadio Artemio Franchi and winning 5-4 on aggregate. This victory also extended their impressive unbeaten streak at home in European competitions to 12 matches.

The Italian side excelled in the first half, registering a total of 14 shots and forcing goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski into making an impressive six saves. The initial opportunity of the match fell to Albert Gudmundsson, as his effort deflected just past Drągowski’s near post. From the subsequent corner, the home team took the lead in spectacular fashion just 12 minutes in.

Rolando Mandragora seized the chance when the ball rolled to him, taking a touch before unleashing a remarkable shot from distance, which swerved into the bottom corner.

The goalscorer attempted to score again moments later, but this time, Drągowski was alert enough to tip the attempt over the bar.

La Viola continued to apply relentless pressure, and shortly thereafter, they doubled their tally.

Gudmundsson charged forward and let fly, with his shot taking a deflection to beat Drągowski at his near post, giving Fiorentina the aggregate advantage.

Raffaele Palladino’s side could have added to their tally before halftime, with Drągowski turning away two well-placed free-kicks from Mandragora and Danilo Cataldi, alongside denying Moise Kean twice.

Kean wasted a promising chance from a corner, heading wide, while Panathinaikos’ best opportunity to respond came from Tete, whose shot from the edge of the area curled narrowly off target.

After a dismal first-half display, the visitors improved after the interval and nearly equalised on aggregate when substitute Fotis Ioannidis capitalised on a long ball from Dragowski. However, his angled shot went just wide.

Fiorentina maintained their attacking threat, with Ioannidis driving forward and selflessly passing to Tetê, whose attempt on goal was thwarted by a well-timed block from Pietro Comuzzo. He also had another chance at the back post, only to be denied again, this time by a last-ditch tackle from Robin Gosens.

However, La Viola secured their progression when Kean cut inside and expertly slotted the ball past Drągowski.

As the match entered its final 10 minutes, tensions heightened when the hosts conceded a needless penalty after Azzedine Ounahi was brought down in the box. Ioannidis calmly converted, placing his shot into the top corner, outsmarting David de Gea.

Fiorentina’s nerves were settled once more when Filip Mladenovic received a second yellow card and was sent off for halting a counter-attack in stoppage time, compounding Rui Vitoria’s side’s woes as they exited the tournament, remaining winless in their last eight away matches across all competitions.