Fiorentina consolidated second place in their Conference League group by crushing Hearts 5-1 with a Nico Gonzalez brace, Luka Jovic header, Cristiano Biraghi free kick and Antonin Barak effort.

The Viola won 3-0 in Edinburgh to go second in the group, but lost all that confidence on Monday with a 4-0 Serie A defeat to Lazio, so remained completely unpredictable. Riccardo Sottil and Gaetano Castrovilli were injured, while Hearts missed Craig Halkett, Kye Rowles, Beni Baningime, Liam Boyce and suspended Lewis Neilson.

It was almost a shock start for the hosts, because within 30 seconds Humphreys had unleashed a strike from distance that bounced off the base of the upright.

Moments later, Christian Kouame’s free header on a Cristiano Biraghi set play forced a desperate save. On the resulting corner, Luka Jovic was allowed another free header that bounced in off the ground.

Only a desperate tackle stopped Aleksa Terzic going clear on goal and Fiorentina doubled their lead with a trademark Biraghi free kick into the near top corner from the edge of the area.

The third was a lovely passing move involving several players from midfield, Nico Gonzalez finishing off by sweeping in from six yards.

Craig Gordon flew to palm away another dangerous Nico Gonzalez curler, but could do nothing when Christian Kouame pulled back from the by-line for Antonin Barak to turn in undisturbed from 12 yards.

Hearts did get a consolation straight after the restart, Humphrys springing the offside trap to slide a finish past Pierluigi Gollini.

Kouame blasted over from a promising position before Cochrane brought down Riccardo Saponara for a penalty, which Nico Gonzalez converted with a cheeky Panenka.

Bianco almost got a sixth with the last kick of the game, drilling just wide.

As Istanbul Basaksehir also won against RFS, that means the Turkish side are on 10 points, Fiorentina seven, Hearts three and RFS two.

Fiorentina 5-1 Hearts

Jovic 6 (F), Biraghi 22 (F), Nico Gonzalez 32, pen 79 (F), Barak 38 (F), Humphrys 47 (H)

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