Wednesday night’s UEFA Europa Conference League final has an Italian team, Fiorentina, taking on an English team, West Ham United, at Prague’s Fortuna Arena.
West Ham is participating in a European championship for the very first time since the 1964–65 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, while this is the first European final for Fiorentina since the 1960–61 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Can La Viola prevail in the second Europa Conference League season? Or will the Hammers rule Prague?
Fiorentina began their Conference League season by placing second in Group A, going undefeated in six games, and winning four in a row.
La Viola eliminated Braga (7-2), Sivasspor (5-1), and Lech Poznan (6-4) in the elimination rounds. They then overcame Basel (4-3) to secure their spot in the championship match.
Fiorentina finished eighth in the Serie A rankings after defeating Sassuolo 3-1 in their most recent match, giving them three victories in their past four league games.
Fiorentina will be keen to make up for losing to Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia final last month by winning the Conference League trophy.
With six victories in a row in the Conference League, West Ham United finished 10 points ahead of Anderlecht, scoring 13 goals while allowing just four.
The Hammers then eliminated AEK Larnaca (6-0) and Gent (5-2) before defeating AZ Alkmaar 3-1 on aggregate to secure their spot in the championship game.
Despite losing 2-1 to Leicester City the last time out, David Moyes’ team ended 14th in the Premier League, six points above the relegation zone.
West Ham will be hoping to defeat Fiorentina on Wednesday after winning four of their previous six games in all tournaments.
Head-to-head: Fiorentina and West Ham have only met once before, back in 1975, during the Anglo-Italian League Cup Winners Cup.
Even though Italy won both games 1-0, it’s important to keep in mind that they occurred approximately 50 years ago.
Team news: Pietro Terracciano will start in goal for Fiorentina on Wednesday since experienced custodian Salvatore Sirigu will be sidelined with an Achilles injury.
The only injured player for West Ham is Italian attacker Gianluca Scamacca (knee), who will not play in the championship game after having surgery.
The Conference League final will undoubtedly be a hard-fought match between two teams fighting to regain their reputation in Europe.
TV channels that will air UECL live in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
- GOTV
- DSTV
- Startimes
- Azam
- K24 and KBC – TBC
Worldwide TV channels that will air EUROPA Conference league Fiorentina vs West ham
- BT Sport 1 and on BT Sport Ultimate
- SBT
- ESPN
- TV Cultura Canada
- Flow Sports
🏅 Who do you want to see with a winners medal?#UECLfinal pic.twitter.com/9pF5OonJta
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) June 6, 2023