It was the same old problem for Fiorentina, wasting golden scoring opportunities in the 1-1 Conference League draw with RFS Riga.

The Viola qualified by eliminating FC Twente in the play-offs and went into this group opener without injured Nikola Milenkovic and Alfred Duncan, plus suspended Igor.

The hosts were unlucky in the opening few minutes, as Antonin Barak thumped the upright from point-blank range.

Jonathan Ikone had a couple of promising opportunities, while Arthur Cabral forced a double save with his header and the follow-up.

The goalkeeper Pavels Steinbors was in stunning form, also making a desperate one-handed save on Barak’s header.

Pierluigi Gollini also had to make a great save, rushing off his line to deny Andrej Ilic one-on-one after Bonaventura’s slip.

Dodo blasted over from a tricky angle and Fiorentina finally made the pressure count when Cristiano Biraghi pulled back from the left for Barak’s volley off the inside of the left boot from nine yards.

Ikone missed an absolute sitter when snatching at the ball to turn wide from 12 yards after a lucky ricochet.

It proved costly, because RFS equalised moments later when Ilic ran onto a smart Friesenbichler through ball and at full stretch managed to prod in before Luca Ranieri and Martinez Quarta.

Luka Jovic shinned a great chance into the stands after a give-and-go with Youssef Maleh and Riccardo Saponara volleyed over.

Fiorentina 1-1 RFS

Barak 56 (F), Ilic 73 (R)

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