Ruslan Rotan leads his Polissya side to Italy for the second leg of their Conference League playoff against "Fiorentina" on Thursday, facing a daunting three-goal deficit after last week's 3-0 defeat in Slovakia.
"The difference in class was evident," – Rotan acknowledged after the first leg played in Prešov, where his team suffered their fourth consecutive loss across all competitions.
The Ukrainian underdogs will need to produce something extraordinary at the Stadio Città del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia, with kickoff set for 21:00 local time. Spanish referee Ricardo de Burgos will officiate the match.
Fiorentina enters the fixture with considerable European pedigree, having reached the Conference League final in two consecutive seasons before falling one step short last campaign. Interestingly, the "Viola" qualified for the main stage through playoffs in all three previous appearances – a pattern they're looking to continue.
Even after Moise Kean's red card shortly before halftime in the first leg, the Italian side managed to extend their advantage in the second half. They followed that comprehensive victory with a slightly disappointing 1-1 draw against Cagliari in their Serie A opener.
Betting odds heavily favor the hosts, with Stefano Pioli's men priced at 1.23 for victory compared to Polissya's longshot 11.00, reflecting the gulf between the sides.
For the "Wolves" to have any chance of an unlikely comeback, they'll need to score early – though whether Fiorentina will allow such a scenario seems doubtful. The Italians have won seven of their previous eleven matches against Ukrainian clubs.
Pioli is expected to field a strong lineup featuring veterans like Edin Džeko up front, supported by Ndur and Fazzini, while Polissya will likely rely on Gutsuliak, Filippov, and Krushinskyi in attack.
Can the Ukrainian side produce one of the greatest European comebacks in recent memory? The odds and history suggest otherwise, but football occasionally delivers the unexpected.
