Fiorentina have lost their second consecutive Conference League Final, as Ayoub El Kaabi sprung the offside trap deep into extra time to give Olympiacos the trophy in Athens.
The Viola lost the Final last season to West Ham United, so were hoping for redemption a year on. Riccardo Sottil and Gaetano Castrovilli were the only absentees, while Olympiacos were in their home city of Athens, albeit the stadium of rivals AEK. Francisco Ortega returned from injury and coach Jose Luis Mendilibar, their third of the season, was the Sevilla coach when beating Roma in the Europa League Final last term.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Daniel Podence got away from Dodo in the opening minutes for a low drive from the edge of the area that Pietro Terracciano fingertipped around the far post. On the resulting corner, Fiorentina went on the counter, but Christian Kouame and then Andrea Belotti failed to make the most of the Nico Gonzalez pull-back.
Nikola Milenkovic had the ball in the net on eight minutes when flicking on a Cristiano Biraghi short corner, but he was offside.
Giacomo Bonaventura had two chances in quick succession, not enough power on the finish from 12 yards, then Kostas Tzolakis came flying out to get something on the lob, while a Podence glancing header on the corner was smothered by Terracciano.
Tzolakis was also very alert when rushing outside his penalty area to nod the ball away from Kouame, as was Terracciano to punch it before Ayoub El Kaabi could pounce inside the box.
Dodo made a crucial clearance in the box before Podence could finish off the control and half-volley, while Milenkovic nodded a corner inches wide of the near post.
Fiorentina had a big chance on 69 minutes when M’Bala Nzola showed strength to hold off his marker and find Dodo, but Kouame horribly scuffed the finish, still forcing a save out of Tzolakis.
Olympiacos also threatened on 80 minutes, an Andre Horta free kick glanced inches wide by the head of Vicente Iborra, though El Kaabi failed to reach a similar set play.
It went to extra time and Olympiacos had penalty appeals, but Lucas Martinez Quarta’s arm was close to the body, then Terracciano got down for another excellent fingertip save on the low curler from ex-Fiorentina star Stevan Jovetic.
Tzolakis had to parry a Jonathan Ikone effort, but Olympiacos broke the deadlock at the 116th minute when Milenkovic cut out the first cross, but the second from Santiago Hezze found El Kaabi in front of substitute Luca Ranieri for a glancing header from six yards. There was a very long VAR check for offside, but eventually it was given.
OLYMPIACOS TAKE THE LEAD IN THE 115TH MINUTE! 💥
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 29, 2024
Olympiacos 1-0 Fiorentina (aet)
El Kaabi 116 (O)
Player statistic
| Daniel Podence |  |
29' | ||
| 42' | |
Lucas Martínez Quarta |
| 79' | |
Christian Kouamé |
| Stevan Jovetic | |
94' | ||
| Alexandros Paschalakis | |
95' | ||
| 99' | |
Cristiano Biraghi | ||
| Ayoub El Kaabi (Assist: Santiago Hezze) |
 |
116' | ||
| Ayoub El Kaabi | |
117' |
Match statistic
Both really tried but the gap in quality between this game and the Europa League Final was vast. Fiorentina never ever looked like scoring. ultimately terraciano was tested more than Tzolakis, so it is a deserved win.
Some of the worst forward play i have ever seen in a final. The Fiorentina forwards were terrible. I was shocked on how poor their overall play was. How do these guys end up playing professional football completely baffles me. They either have some really good agents or Fiorentina has an awful scouting system.
@Bob. Bottled it. they bottled it like the other finals they’ve played under Italiano. a nearly club.
Viola’s lack of a consistent goalscoring forward told in the end.
Bellotti never looks like scoring now and is a waste of a place in the team, N’zola hardly better, has a poor touch and does not impose hiimself on defenders despite his big physique, Kouame and Ikone are too often wasteful or ineffective. Nico Gonzales was not involved much and without his input there was very little threat in the box.
Bonaventura wasted two best chances in the first half as he often does.
Italiano’s subs did not work, esp withdrawing Arthur and Nico (who despite not having a good game could have made something happen late in the game when defenders were more tires and more spaces/time became available.
Unless Fiorentina signs a much better goalscoring forward, it is hard to see how they can progress much next season…