Iličić lifts Fiorentina above Lech

• Fiorentina replace Lech in second place in Group I with victory in Poland
• Josip Iličić fires visitors ahead with fine free-kick on 42 minutes
• Slovenian chips advancing Jasmin Burić to put game beyond Lech in closing stages
• Lech struggle to test Fiorentina keeper in first European home match under Jan Urban
• Next games: Basel v Fiorentina, Belenenses v Lech (26 November)

Fiorentina moved up to second in UEFA Europa League Group I, two Josip Iličić strikes enough to spoil Jan Urban's first European home game as the Railwaymen's coach.

Lech beat the Viola 2-1 in Florence on matchday two, a shock result which they appeared more than capable of repeating in the early stages, Szymon Pawłowski flashing one shot wide before Marcin Kamiński cracked a rising drive from the edge of the box which Luigi Sepe was well placed to gather.

Fiorentina woke up, Matías Fernández whipping one effort across the face of goal and Giuseppe Rossi sending a tame attempt at Jasmin Burić, though the opening goal still was still something of a bolt from the blue. Iličić's free-kick on 42 minutes was in a reasonably central position, but a good distance out, and it was quite a feat to steer the ball over the wall and into the top corner.

Noses in front, Fiorentina never looked like surrendering their advantage, Rossi and Federico Bernardeschi fashioning the best opportunities after the break as Urban's Lech struggled to muster a response. Lech came closest to levelling on 78 minutes, substitute Gergő Lovrencsics smashing a low strike past Sepe's right-hand post.

Iličić delivered the killer blow on 83 minutes, chasing Fernández's ball through midfield and lifting it over the oncoming Burić to put the result beyond doubt.

©Getty Images

©Getty Images