Conference League | Rapid Vienna 0-3 Fiorentina: Viola revival

Fiorentina got back on their feet with a dominant Conference League performance away to Rapid Vienna, as Cher Ndour, Edin Dzeko and Albert Gudmundsson scored.

The Viola had a disastrous start to their Serie A season, scraping just three draws in seven rounds, but were doing better in Europe with a 2-0 victory over Sigma Olomouc. Moise Kean and Robin Gosens were rested, with Christian Kouame and Tariq Lamptey injured. Rapid Vienna were also on dire form, losing four competitive games in a row, with Claudy Mbuyi, Petter Nosa Dahl and Jakob Schöller out of action.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

The visitors had a huge double opportunity after four minutes when Niklas Hedl fumbled a Hans Nicolussi Caviglia cross, as Rapid Vienna saved themselves with two Ange Ahoussou goal-line clearances on Edin Dzeko and the Mattia Viti follow-up.

It was only a warning, as Edin Dzeko saw his angled drive meekly flapped away by the goalkeeper into the path of Cher Ndour to open the scoring.

Roberto Piccoli should’ve made it 2-0 when he ran onto the inspired Nicolò Fagioli ball over the top, but fired wide with only the shot-stopper to beat.

Piccoli’s weak header was also saved and Kara scuffed a finish wide after Pablo Mari’s poor back pass, then Pablo Mari nodded a corner over.

Fiorentina did double their lead after the restart when Nicolò Fortini put in a cross from the right, Dzeko sweeping in on the bounce with the inside of the right boot from 10 yards.

David De Gea made a stunning save when flying to fingertip the Mathias Seidl scorcher onto the crossbar on 65 minutes.

Piccoli wasted another golden opportunity, but Fiorentina did add a third moments later when young substitute Kouadio laid it off inside the area for Albert Gudmundsson’s control and angled drive into the far bottom corner.

Ndour 9 (F), Dzeko 49 (F), Gudmundsson 88 (F)