Fiorentina vs. AEK Athens: Conference League official MD4 line-ups

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – AUGUST 28: Edin Dzeko of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2025/2026 Play-Off 1st leg match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Polissya Zhytomyr at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on August 28, 2025 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Paolo Vanoli is seeking his first Fiorentina victory with Edin Dzeko, Albert Gudmundsson and David De Gea in the Conference League against Luka Jovic’s AEK Athens.

It kicks off at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Bologna vs. RB Salzburg and Roma vs. Midtjylland on the Liveblog.

The Viola have had a disastrous campaign, sacking Stefano Pioli and still without a Serie A victory all season.

They had started well in the Conference League with wins over Sigma Olomouc and Rapid Vienna, but fumbled a lead to lose 2-1 at Mainz under caretaker manager Daniele Galloppa.

Since taking charge, Vanoli has overseen Serie A stalemates against Genoa and Juventus, while this is his UEFA debut as a coach.

There are numerous injuries to deal with, missing Dodo, Robin Gosens and Tariq Lamptey, plus Roberto Piccoli not fully fit with a sprained ankle.

Vanoli already announced that Dzeko and De Gea would start, as their experience was badly needed in this difficult moment.

They are joined by Rolando Mandragora and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia in midfield, while Albert Gudmundsson is in attack.

AEK Athens are packed with former Serie A players, including ex-Viola striker Luka Jovic, former Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, Roberto Pereyra, and ex-Cagliari midfielder Razvan Marin.

Frantzdy Pierrot and Dereck Kutesa are carrying injuries, while ex-Inter midfielder Joao Mario is one of several players not on the UEFA squad list because they were signed after the deadline.

Their results have been mixed in the Conference League so far, losing 3-1 at NK Celje, crushing Aberdeen FC 6-0 and then drawing 1-1 against Shamrock Rovers.

Fiorentina vs. AEK Athens line-ups

Fiorentina: De Gea; Pongracic, Comuzzo, Ranieri; Fortini, Mandragora, Nicolussi Caviglia, Ndour, Parisi; Gudmundsson, Dzeko

Fiorentina bench: Lezzerini, Martinelli, Sohm, Pablo Mari, Kean, Fazzini, Kospo, Richardson, Viti, Fagioli, Kouadio, Piccoli

AEK Athens: Strakosha; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilios; Marin, Pineda; Gacinovic, Pereyra, Koita; Jovic

AEK bench: Angelopoulos, Brignoli, Grujic, Mantalos, Vida, Penrice, Kosidis, Chrysopoulos, Zini

Ref: Jones (ENG)