UECL | Lausanne-Sport 1-0 Fiorentina: Another dismal night for Viola

Fiorentina fell to yet another disappointing defeat, this time 1-0 away to Lausanne-Sport, and will enter the Conference League play-offs.

They finish the table in 16th place, so are still seeded, and will play either Jagellonia or Omonia Nicosia.

The Viola were in a deep crisis at the foot of the Serie A table without a win, and coming off back-to-back Conference League defeats too. This was the final game of the league phase, with Robin Gosens and Jacopo Fazzini out of action, plus Cher Ndour suspended, but Christian Kouame got his first start since that ACL tear last season. Lausanne-Sport were one point behind Fiorentina going in, but Nicky Beloko, Oscar Renovales, Ethan Bruchez and Muhanad Alsaad were injured, while Gaoussou Diakite was on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Fiorentina risked an own goal when Mattia Viti’s header back almost surprised Tommaso Martinelli, while Sekou Fofana fired over from a promising position after Hans Nicolussi-Caviglia was robbed in midfield.

Roberto Piccoli’s effort was charged down by Karim Sow, while the acrobatic Theo Bair flick was straight at Martinelli.

After the restart, Amir Richardson’s volley from the edge of the area was blocked off by Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who risked handball, but did not increase the silhouette.

Lausanne came close when Enzo Kana-Biyik’s rather shinned half-volley looped inches past the far post from 14 yards.

Piccoli sprung the offside trap, but hesitated and then scuffed his finish straight at the goalkeeper, which proved costly as Lausanne-Sport took the lead moments later.

Kana-Biyik twisted and turned Nicolussi-Caviglia at the left by-line and stood up a cross for Gabriel Sigua’s free header at the back post.

It was nearly 2-0 soon after, as Beyatt Lekoueiry was allowed to surge through the centre, this time Martinelli managed to push the strike over the bar. On the resulting corner, Edin Dzeko used his face to charge down the Kevin Mouanga effort.

Nobody was ready to meet Simon Sohm’s ball flashed across the face of goal, so Fiorentina threw on Moise Kean, Albert Gudmundsson and Rolando Mandragora.

There was a double Viola chance when Eddy Kouadio’s cross found Niccolò Fortini for a volley that was charged down, the Kouadio tried himself and forced a tricky save at the near post.

Kean was offside on several occasions, and wasteful in the finish when he did get past the flag, while ex-Atalanta man Brandon Soppy made a decisive sliding tackle on Gudmundsson.

Lekoueiry’s curler flashed just past the far post in the final minutes and Sohm’s volley was too close to the goalkeeper.

The result means Lausanne-Sport leapfrog Fiorentina and go straight into the Round of 16.