Josip Ilicic got both goals as Fiorentina revived their Europa League campaign with a 2-0 victory away to Lech Poznan.
The Viola were joint top of Serie A with Inter, yet surprisingly bottom of their Europa League group after home defeats to Basel and Lech Poznan. They therefore fielded practically a full-strength XI for this trip to Poland. Ante Rebic was suspended following his red card, while the hosts had Dawid Kownacki and Marcin Robak out with knee injuries.
Josip Ilicic got both goals as Fiorentina revived their Europa League campaign with a 2-0 victory away to Lech Poznan.
The Viola were joint top of Serie A with Inter, yet surprisingly bottom of their Europa League group after home defeats to Basel and Lech Poznan. They therefore fielded practically a full-strength XI for this trip to Poland. Ante Rebic was suspended following his red card, while the hosts had Dawid Kownacki and Marcin Robak out with knee injuries.
Szymon Pawlowski drilled wide from the edge of the box following a poor clearance and Luigi Sepe plucked a Marcin Kaminski effort out from under the bar.
Mati Fernandez’s curler was just wide of the far post, while Karol Linetty turned well in the penalty area only to fire over from a promising position.
The Tuscans dominated possession in Poland, but struggled to create a single genuine chance until just before half-time.
Josip Ilicic curled one of his trademark free kicks from 25 metres into the near top corner, using the wall to disguise his shot from the goalkeeper.
There was tension on the stroke of half-time, as Federico Bernardeschi caught Kasper Hamalainen with an elbow.
Giuseppe Rossi sprinted forward and his strike was deflected by a last-gasp Tomasz Kedziora sliding tackle. Hamalainen blasted over the bar and Lovrencsics drilled inches wide.
The Viola held out under pressure in Poznan and doubled their lead on the counter, as Mati Fernandez threaded through to send Ilicic running and the Slovenian dinked his finish over the on-rushing goalkeeper.
With two away victories and two home defeats, Paulo Sousa’s men are second in Group I with six points. Basel lead with nine points, Lech Poznan and Belenenses have four apiece.
Lech Poznan 0-2 Fiorentina
Scorers: Ilicic 42, 83 (F)
Lech Poznan: Buric; Kedziora, Dudka, Kaminski, Kadar; Tetteh (Thomalla 72), Tralka; Formella (Lovrencsics 60), Linetty, Pawlowski; Hamalainen (Gajos 77)
Fiorentina: Sepe; Tomovic, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Astori; Vecino, Mario Suarez (Badelj 79); Blaszczykowski (Alonso 72), Mati Fernandez, Ilicic, Bernardeschi; Rossi (Kalinic 63)
Ref: Ozakhya (TUR)