Under Miroslav Koubek's guidance, Plzen has flourished, making a mark in this season's competition. Despite being overshadowed by teams like Unai Emery's Aston Villa and Vincenzo Italiano's Fiorentina, Plzen has quietly emerged as one of the contenders for success.
Their unbeaten run, spanning eight games in the competition and 14 matches including the qualifying ties, is a testament to their strength. With a perfect record in the group stage, Plzen's solid defense has been pivotal, conceding only against Astana since then.
In the round of 16 against Servette, Plzen showcased resilience, with goalkeeper Martin Jedlicka's heroics playing a crucial role in their advancement. Against Fiorentina, they anticipate another stern test, where Jedlicka's performance might once again be pivotal.
While Plzen has shown prowess in attack throughout the tournament, this tie against Fiorentina is poised as a clash between their attacking flair and Fiorentina's defensive resilience. Fiorentina, known for their scoring prowess, have rarely failed to find the net in Europe this season.
However, Fiorentina's vulnerability in away matches, with only one clean sheet in five games, offers Plzen an opportunity to capitalize. Italiano is aware of the threat Plzen poses to their European ambitions, especially considering their position in Serie A.
With European qualification through the league seeming unlikely for Fiorentina, success in either the domestic cup or the Europa Conference League becomes imperative for their continental aspirations next season.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
It's uncertain whether Jan Sykora and Jhon Mosquera will be fit to play due to recent knee and head injuries. However, Erik Jirka (groin), Rafiu Durosinmi, and Matej Valenta (both knee) are unlikely to feature in the upcoming quarter-final first-leg clash.Tomas Chory, Viktoria's top scorer in the Conference League, aims to build on his tally of three goals in the upcoming match.
On the other side, Fiorentina coach Italiano has no reported injury concerns ahead of Thursday's game. However, there's a question mark over whether right-back Dodo will start, given his gradual return from a severe knee injury.
Lucas Beltran, who has scored three goals, shares the top scorer position for Fiorentina with Luca Ranieri and Antonin Barak. Fiorentina pins their hopes on Beltran to deliver a strong performance at Doosan Arena.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Viktoria Plzen possible starting lineup:Jedlicka; Kopic, Dweh, Hranac, Jamelka, Cadu; Cerv, Kalavach, Vydra; Chory, Sulc
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terraciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Ranieri, Biraghi; Bonaventura, Mandragora; Gonzalez, Beltran, Sottil; Belotti
EXPERT PREDICTION
Viktoria Plzen 2-2 Fiorentina
It's improbable that Viktoria will manage to prevent Fiorentina from scoring, especially considering Fiorentina's average of 2.1 goals per game in this season's Conference League.
However, Fiorentina shouldn't count on an easy win either. They've only secured two away victories in five matches (including the playoff round) in the competition so far this season, suggesting that a draw is a likely outcome for Thursday's match.
