Fiorentina vs Rakow Predictions

• Rakow went unbeaten in the last stage thanks to a kind run of games
• Fiorentina won 3-0 in the first leg of their last tie, which came against a side two places above Rakow in the Ekstraklasa

Back Fiorentina for another first-leg lead

After Fiorentina capitulated in their second-leg clash with Jagiellonia in the last round, their odds have drifted close to evens for a home win over another Polish side. Rakow skipped the Play-Off round after a second-placed finish in the League Phase, but this is the biggest test they’ve faced so far.

The visitors went unbeaten through their six games in the League Phase, but outside of fourth-placed Sparta Prague, their toughest assignment was a clash with 18th-placed Omonia Nicosia.

Rakow also faced sides that placed 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 36th in the standings, while they drew two of their three away trips. That unbeaten run could well come to an end here, despite Fiorentina making life hard for themselves last time out.

A 4-2 defeat to Jagiellonia sent Fiorentina through with a 5-4 aggregate win after extra time. The Serie A side dominated the first leg in Poland to win 3-0, and they were caught cold in the first half of the second meeting as they tried to defend their lead, rather than extend it.

Fiorentina improved after half-time, and they should start with a very different mindset for this first encounter. Back them to take charge of this tie with a home win.