Conference League | Lech Poznan 1-4 Fiorentina: Nine in a row for EuroViola

Fiorentina earned a commanding 4-1 victory in Poland, their ninth consecutive Conference League win, to dominate the first leg of their quarter-final against Lech Poznan.

The Viola saw their run of nine consecutive wins in all competition ended at the weekend by Spezia and were visiting a side still unbeaten at home in Europe this season, with seven wins and a draw. Lucas Martinez-Quarta was suspended for this trip to Poland.

It was the perfect start for Fiorentina, as within four minutes Nico Gonzalez had unleashed a wonderful curler from outside the box that bounced off the far post, hit the goalkeeper in the back and fell into the path of Arthur Cabral to score the rebound.

Mikael Ishak had penalty appeals waved away after falling under pressure from Nikola Milenkovic, but there was a dramatic minute of football when first Josip Brekalo’s strike thumped the base of the near post, then Lech Poznan countered and Ishak knocked down a cross for Kristoffer Velde to fire in first time from the edge of the area.

Fiorentina restored their lead when Cristiano Biraghi floated a ball to the back post and Nico Gonzalez towered above his marker, sending the header into the ground and back across the goalkeeper.

There was almost a third on the stroke of half-time, Cabral slipping at the decisive moment on a knocked down cross.

The Viola did extend their advantage when Brekalo surged forward and Jonathan Ikone laid it off for Giacomo Bonaventura to smash into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Ikone added a fourth moments later, surging forward and placing a precise left-footed snooker shot into the near bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Lech Poznan 1-4 Fiorentina

Cabral 4 (F), Velde 20 (L), Nico Gonzalez 41 (F), Bonaventura 58 (F), Ikone 63 (F)