Fiorentina beats Brugge 3-2 in the first leg of the Conference League semi-finals. A goal from one of the most discussed men, Mbala Nzola, decides which in full recovery allows his team to be able to count on two results out of three in the return match where after these first 90′ anything can still happen. The Viola opened the match in the best way, taking the lead already in the 4th minute with Sottil perfect to receive the ball on the left front of attack, centralizing and striking Jackers with a precise right-footed shot. Another 4 minutes and the hosts could double their lead but Nico Gonzalez puts a left-footed shot over the crossbar following an assist from Biraghi. It seems like a match channeled in the best way for the gigliati but with their first defensive error Brugge wins a penalty awarded for a handball by the Fiorentina captain following a shot by Thiago, and scored by Vanaken. The skill of the Viola is not to be discouraged and start again immediately and the second goal of the Italian men in the 37th minute is no coincidence.
Belotti was the perfect scorer to take advantage of a ball served by Nico Gonzalez who collected an uncertain Jackers pass on a shot from outside the area by Bonaventura. The match takes a new turn around the hour mark when within sixty seconds Bruges sensationally fail to equalize through Thiago, and then Onyedika, recently booked, receives the second yellow card and remains with ten men. It could be a downhill road for Fiorentina but Thiago beats Ranieri on the counterattack and beats Terracciano. From that moment on, the visiting coach decides to make conservative changes and, while not giving up on restarts, decides to cover himself. The choice, however, doesn’t pay off because Nzola scores the 3-2 for the Viola in the first minute of injury time but to understand who will be in the final in Athens on May 29th everything will be decided in seven days in Belgium.