Fiorentina leave top stars behind for Conference League battle

Fiorentina have a decimated squad for their Conference League play-off against Jagiellonia, as the conditions do not bode well.

The first leg kicks off on Thursday at the Stadion Miejski w Bialymstoku in Bialystok at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

The decider will then be at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence next week.

Coach Paolo Vanoli’s mood was boosted by last week’s unexpected 2-1 Serie A victory away to Como, which lifted them out of the Serie A relegation zone.

However, it came at a cost, because they had to leave several top players behind for this trip to Poland due to fitness concerns.

David De Gea suffered a dislocated finger on his left hand during the win over Como, while January signing Manor Solomon has flu symptoms.

Moise Kean, Dodo, De Gea and Manor Solomon remain in Florence, along with injured Albert Gudmundsson and Tariq Lamptey.

Marco Brescianini, Oliver Christensen and Daniele Rugani are not on the UEFA squad list for this stage of the competition, so are ineligible.

It means Vanoli has had to call up eight players from the Fiorentina youth team, including two goalkeepers.

Luca Lezzerini should therefore play his first UEFA match for the Viola since the 3-2 Europa League defeat to PAOK in November 2016.

No risks will be taken with the most important players, considering the conditions in Poland, where it has been snowing heavily.

This is not a synthetic or even hybrid pitch, so it has suffered more than most from the freezing temperatures.

Fiorentina squad for Jagiellonia

Balbo, Bertolini, Bonanno, Braschi, Comuzzo, Deli, Fabbian, Fagioli, Fazzini, Fortini, Gosens, Harrison, Kouadio, Leonardelli, Lezzerini, Magalotti, Mandragora, Ndour, Parisi, Piccoli, Pongracic, Ranieri, Sadotti