Hearts vs Fiorentina Prediction & Tips
Robbie Nielson will have been disappointed after seeing his Hearts side start their first European adventure in six years with three straight defeats if you count qualifying as well, but he now has something to build on after their win over RFS last time out. In true Jekyll and Hyde fashion, Hearts followed that victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) with a 3-0 win and a 4-0 defeat in the Scottish Premiership.
Each of Hearts’ last four matches has ended in away wins without conceding and by two goals or more, a run the Scottish side will be looking to end this time around. Having matched the points from their only previous European group stage in 2004/05, any positive result here in Hearts’ first meeting with an Italian side since 1990/91 would create a small piece of club history.
Although Fiorentina go into this clash as overwhelming favourites according to the bookies, they currently sit bottom of the group after starting two games without a win (E1, P1) despite being the pre-tournament favourites on both occasions. Vincenzo Italiano’s side backed up their latest defeat with a win and a loss in Serie A, a pair of results that left the Florence outfit, who finished last season in 7th place in the standings, struggling in the bottom half of the table and in need of a confidence boost.
Fiorentina are the only Italian side in the UECL this season and will be looking to repeat what Roma did last season, when they took the title, and can perhaps take stock of their strong history in head-to-head matches against Scottish opponents (G2, E3, P1). However, their results when playing away in the Land of the Brave are mixed (G1, E1, P1) and the most recent encounter ended goalless at home to Rangers.
Key battle: Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland has opened the scoring with five of his six goals this season – scoring four of them from the penalty spot, including two he scored in European competitions. Trying to stop him will be Fiorentina defender Lucas Martinez Quarta, who tragically is the only player on the team to have scored away in more than nine hours of play.
Key stat: Fiorentina are unbeaten in 12 of their last 13 away matches played in the group stage of European competitions (G9, E3, P1).
Hearts – Fiorentina FREE TIPS
OVER 2.5 GOALS @ 2.25
