UECL | Ferencvaros 1-1 Fiorentina: Viola secure top spot

Fiorentina got the result they required thanks to Conference League surprise hitman Luca Ranieri, holding Ferencvaros to avoid the play-offs, but lost Nico Gonzalez to injury.

The Viola needed only a point to be sure of top spot and avoiding the play-offs, but Alfred Duncan, Giacomo Bonaventura, Arthur Melo, Riccardo Sottil, Gaetano Castrovilli, Dodo and suspended Cristiano Biraghi missed out. Dejan Stankovic’s side drew 2-2 in Florence and could still take first place with a win, but Myenty Abena, Adama Traore and Adam Halmai were on the treatment table.

Rolando Mandragora forced the first save of the match with a left-foot strike from the edge of the area and Antonin Barak drilled wide from a promising position.

There was very bad news when Nico Gonzalez pulled up clutching the back of his right thigh and had to be stretchered off in tears, seeming to sustain a serious flexor or hamstring injury.

Oliver Christensen made a stunning double save on the Katona low drive from 12 yards and got right back up to palm the Civic rebound out of the near top corner.

Ferencvaros took the lead straight after the restart, as Abu Fani burst down the left and pulled back, where Kristoffer Zachariassen got between centre-backs to prod into the roof of the net from six yards.

Nikola Milenkovic tried for the comeback, his header just wide of the near post on a corner, but Christensen had to use his knee to parry the Katona strike after a rapid Marquinhos counter-attack.

After a series of corners, one of them paid off, as Milenkovic nodded it down for Luca Ranieri to volley in with his right foot at the back post. It was the defender’s third Conference League goal.

M’Bala Nzola should’ve given Fiorentina the lead soon after, but horribly scuffed wide from close range.

Ferencvaros 1-1 Fiorentina

Zachariassen 48 (Fe), Ranieri 73 (Fi)