Fiorentina vs Real Betis Conference League preview: where to watch, predicted line-ups, team news

Fiorentina host Real Betis with a Conference League final spot to be decided in the second leg of their semi-final tie.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Conference League broadcast partner(s) here.

What do you need to know?

Fiorentina might have more pedigree at this stage of European tournaments, but it's Real Betis who go into this match with an advantage after a close first leg in Spain. Their 2-1 win means La Viola will need to come from behind if they are to reach a seventh UEFA competition final from ten semi-final ties. "The tie is open," said Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino. "We have to keep believing that, with our fans behind us, we can do it.”

For Betis, of course, this is uncharted territory. They are in a UEFA semi-final for the very first time and are bidding to become the first Spanish club to contest a Conference League final. "We’ll go to Florence not to sit on our goal but to take the game on again and try to win," said coach Manuel Pellegrini. His team will go to Florence with confidence too: as well as losing just one of their last nine Conference League games, they have also scored the opening goal in 11 of their last 12.

Possible line-ups

Fiorentina: De Gea; Pongračić, Comuzzo, Ranieri; Folorunsho, Mandragora, Adli, Fagioli, Parisi; Guðmundsson, Kean

Real Betis: Vieites; Aitor Ruibal, Bartra, Natan, Perraud; Cardoso, Isco, Fornals; Antony, Bakambu, Ezzalzouli

Form guide

Fiorentina

Form: LLWWDD
Latest: Roma 1-0 Fiorentina, Serie A, 04/05

Real Betis

Form: WWWWDL
Latest: Espanyol 1-2 Real Betis, La Liga, 04/05

Form includes all competitive games in the 2024/25 season; the most recent result is listed first. For statistical purposes, penalty shoot-outs do not count towards results.

Expert prediction

Fabio Balaudo, match reporter: Fiorentina and Real Betis go into Thursday's clash in diametrically opposed moods: the home side were beaten by Roma at the weekend and saw their chances of qualifying for European competition next season plummet, while Pellegrini's team overcame Espanyol in a stunning comeback to confirm they are still in the running for Champions League qualification. The Viola are aiming for a third straight appearance in the final, but to get to Wroclaw they will have to overturn the 2-1 defeat in the first leg: no easy task against a Betis outfit that are in excellent form and can count on a truly inspired Antony.

Views from the camps

Raffaele Palladino, Fiorentina coach: "Together with our fans, we will try to give everything to take Fiorentina to the final. We have studied the first leg, which was a great match against a strong team. We must, and can, do better technically, and we can cause them problems. The team is charged, and the fans will give us extra."

Rolando Mandragora, Fiorentina midfielder: "The recent lost finals are an extra motivation. But everything starts tomorrow. We are playing in front of our people and we believe in the comeback. Everything depends on our desire to win, on our hunger. We will have a lot of it. We hope to take Fiorentina to the final and to have a different outcome this time around."

Manuel Pellegrini, Real Betis coach: "I see a team in great shape. We're very excited to finish the tie strongly. We're confident that we can play a great game here. The most important thing is that we go out with the conviction to win the game from the first minute."

Antony, Real Betis forward: "Winning a title in a Betis shirt would be a dream, I'm looking forward to writing my name in Betis' history. I feel very happy to play in a semi-final, I am physically and mentally ready for it. I am experiencing one of the best moments of my career here."