Conference League League Phase, Matchday 2, Thursday, 24.10.2024 at 18:45
What a liberating blow the “Viola” only managed last weekend in Serie A, didn’t they? A few days before the all-important match against FC St. Gallen on matchday 2 of the Conference League, the events at the Stadio via del Mare cannot be completely ignored.
But in my St. Gallen Fiorentina prediction, I’ll also be looking at everything else.
This of course includes the Italians’ recent resounding victory, but also the downward sloping form curve of the “Espen”.
The match between St. Gallen and Fiorentina promises to be exciting, as both teams come into this duel with different form curves.
For the Swiss, it will be the first time since the 2013/14 Europa League that they have competed in the main round of a UEFA competition. Unfortunately, St. Gallen’s opening match was anything but successful.
With a disastrous 2:6 against Cercle Brugge, they suffered a setback of a very special kind. In the first half in particular, they were literally overrun by the Belgians, conceding three goals before the break.
This trend continued in their last few games, in which eventful first halves were repeatedly played out. A total of six goals were scored in the first 45 minutes of St. Gallen’s last three games alone.
In their last match against Basel, the team was able to take an early lead, but FCSG let the game slip from their grasp after the early goal and ultimately lost 2:1.
A St. Gallen Fiorentina betting tip that assumes at least 1.5 goals in the first half would therefore not be wrong here. Especially as the associated odds, currently averaging 2.40, are impressive.
This failure against Basel extended the winless streak of the “Espen” to four competitive games (1 draw, 3 defeats).
Things are not looking much better for FCSG at home at the moment either. After a strong start to the season, in which they recorded four home wins in a row, they have now lost momentum.
During their last four appearances at Kybunpark, they have only managed a single win, accompanied by two draws and a defeat. It seems as if St. Gallen have let the air out a little after their furious start.
On the other hand, AC Florence, two-time Conference League finalists, travel to the Alpine republic on a much better run.
Their European trip began with a 2:0 win against Welsh side TNS, but the “Viola” had to put up with some criticism in the first half.
The fans made their displeasure loudly known before Fiorentina took control of the game in the second half and secured victory with two goals.
A result which, incidentally, I saw coming in my successful Fiorentina TNS tip.
Be that as it may, a slow start is not a new phenomenon for the Italians in this competition, as they have either drawn or lost the first half in all three of their Conference League games so far this season.
In recent weeks, Fiorentina have shown impressive form and have finally found their winning form – consistently!
They have won three competitive games in a row and showed that they are also a dangerous team away from home in their 6-0 win over Lecce last Sunday.
It was the first time since 1966 that the “Viola” had scored six or more goals in a Serie A away game, and it was also the second time in a row that they had scored nothing.
This success over Lecce was a clear sign that the initial difficulties under the new coach have now been overcome and Fiorentina are ready to pose significant problems for St. Gallen’s defense.
In any case, I can’t ignore the strong performance against Lecce or the great Merkur Bet bonus, which is why I’m ultimately marking an away win for the Italians on my betting slip.
The associated St. Gallen Fiorentina odds without tax at various bookmakers are also sufficiently high at 1.70 to venture this bet as a single bet.
If we look at the possible betting scenarios for this match, there are some interesting options. Five of the last six games involving Fiorentina have seen ten or more shots on goal.
This suggests that the “Viola” are now increasingly attacking and creating chances on a conveyor belt. Therefore, a bet on “Over 2.5 goals” could be quite attractive – the odds of 1.78 are a solid recommendation.
Another exciting scenario is Andrea Colpani’s gala performance. He recently scored a brace against Lecce and three of his last four away goals have come in the second half.
So if you want to back a Colpani goal, you’ll find an interesting option with odds of 2.25. A high-scoring game and a goal from Colpani could therefore be a rewarding combination.
Conclusion: If you compare these two teams, it’s clear that the “Viola” currently have the edge.
St. Gallen are struggling with fluctuations in form, while Fiorentina have now got back on track after initial problems at the start.
Those of you looking for a solid bet should certainly favor the visitors from Italy here, especially given their defensive stability and the fact that the Swiss have weakened at home recently.
My St. Gallen Fiorentina betting tip: Win ACF & Over 2.5 goals
