Fiorentina Faces Raków Częstochowa in UEFA Conference League
“Paolo Vanoli’s gone with a surprising number of starters in this one,” a source noted ahead of the much-anticipated match between Fiorentina and Raków Częstochowa. The two teams are set to clash on March 12, 2026, at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, Italy, as part of the UEFA Conference League Round of 16.
Fiorentina, currently facing a downward trend with two defeats and a draw in their last three matches, scraped through to this stage after a narrow 5-4 aggregate win against Jagiellonia. The team will be looking to turn their fortunes around against a resilient Raków Częstochowa, who finished second in the Conference League opening phase.
Fiorentina’s coach, Paolo Vanoli, is dealing with notable absences, including key players such as Moise Kean, Marin Pongracic, and Manor Solomon. Despite these setbacks, the team believes that players like Roberto Piccoli and Jacopo Fazzini can inspire them in this crucial match.
In contrast, Raków Częstochowa’s coach, Łukasz Tomczyk, has a solid squad at his disposal. The Polish side has proven to be defensively strong, conceding just two goals in their six league phase matches. Lamine Diaby-Fadiga stands out as their top scorer in the Conference League, having netted six goals, while Jonatan Braut Brunes has scored an impressive 20 goals this season.
Fiorentina has sold approximately 6,000 tickets for home fans and around 300 for Polish supporters, indicating a strong local interest in the match. The atmosphere at the Stadio Artemio Franchi is expected to be electric as both teams vie for a place in the quarter-finals.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET), and fans are eager to see how Fiorentina will adapt to their missing players. “Fiorentina are without Kean in attack,” another source highlighted, emphasizing the challenge ahead for the home side.
As the match approaches, details remain unconfirmed regarding any last-minute changes to either lineup. Both teams will be looking to capitalize on their strengths and secure a vital win in this knockout stage of the tournament.
