Rob Eddy’s best bets for Wednesday night’s finale in Athens include Fiorentina bouncing back from last season’s heartbreak.
A year on from finishing runners-up in the Europa Conference League, Fiorentina are back in the final on Wednesday night when they face Olympiakos at the Agia Sophia Stadium in Athens.
Having suffered heartbreak at the hands of West Ham United in Prague 12 months ago, Fiorentina have a chance to put things right against an Olympiakos side that are preparing for their first-ever European final.
Selections
Fiorentina to win and both teams to score @ 4/1
Ayoub El Kaabi to score anytime @ 17/10
Daniel Podence 3+ shots @ 2/1
Fiorentina to banish ghosts of Prague
La Viola will have learnt plenty from their defeat to West Ham in last year’s final and their unbeaten record in their last 13 games in the Conference League shows how far this side has come.
Losing just two of their last 12 games in all competitions, Fiorentina find themselves in good form as they head to the Greek capital this week.
Having seen both teams find the back of the net in all of Fiorentina’s last eight games in all competitions, both teams to score looks to be the way to go for Wednesday’s final.
However, with their previous European cup final experience and their current form, La Viola look like they have enough attacking quality to prevail in Athens without the need of going to extra-time or beyond.
Ayoub El Kaabi can strike again
A forward in strong form at present, Ayoub El Kaabi is the main reason Olympiakos find themselves in their first European final.
Scoring five goals across the two semi-final legs against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, the 30-year-old Morocco international appears to be a player getting better with age.
Having now found the back of the net 10 times in the Conference League this season, it’s hard to look past El Kaabi adding to his tally again on Wednesday.
Fiorentina have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight outings in all competitions and El Kaabi is 17/10 to score anytime in Athens.
Podence not afraid to try his luck
Having scored in Olympiakos’ last game against rivals Panathinaikos, Daniel Podence looks to be good value to have three or more shots at goal on Wednesday night.
With 37 attempts at goal in 22 league appearances for Olympiakos this season, Podence has shown he’s not afraid to test the keeper when cutting in from that left flank.
The Portugal international is set to finish his loan spell in Greece this week and will be determined to have an impact before heading back to the Premier League with his parent club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
While Podence might be unable in the end to help guide Olympiakos to European glory, he’s good value at 2/1 to have three or more shots at the Fiorentina goal over the course of the 90 minutes at Agia Sophia Stadium.
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