After a pulsating 3-2 victory over Braga to finish a 7-2 mixture victory, Fiorentina turned their consideration to the UEFA headquarters, the place the Convention League draw came about within the spherical of 16. Viola was undoubtedly a bit of nervous that she did not high her group (thanks, Golini). They may have confronted any of the massive groups. whereas West HamAnd VillarrealAnd Good and AZ aren’t precisely conflict of killers, they’re all good groups. Fiorentina have prevented all of them for now and can as an alternative face Turkish facet Sivasspor subsequent month.

Sivasspor is headquartered in Sivas, a metropolis in central Turkey and the executive capital of the Sivas area. Based in 1932 and merged with two different native golf equipment in 1967, Yigidos spent most of their historical past within the second and third tiers till successful their second league in 2005 to earn their Tremendous League debut the next season. They went down once more in 2015-16 however got here again the next 12 months and are actually of their sixth consecutive 12 months within the high flight.

However over the previous three years, Sivaspor has grow to be a drive in Turkey, qualifying for European competitors and even successful Turkey’s Kobaci in 2022 for its first silverware. They topped Group G with 11 factors, one forward of CFR Cluj and three forward of Slavia Prague, to get right here. That is the furthest the membership has progressed in Europe so that you finest imagine they may wish to proceed.

Very similar to Fiorentina, Sivaspor has impressed in cup competitions this season whereas impressing within the league. They’re in thirteenth place, largely as a result of an 8-match winless streak to start out the season, and have solely gained 6, though they did get an enormous win over Beşiktaş the final time they performed. In addition they superior to the quarterfinals of Türkiye Kupası this 12 months.

Led for the second time – he first took over in 2010 and stayed for 3 years – by Besiktas legend Reza Kalimbay (nicknamed ‘Atomic Ant’ throughout his enjoying days), Sivaspor typically performs 4-3-3 or 4-2-3- 1 system. They common slightly below 46% possession and are near main the league in interceptions and tackles, which typically hints at pretty deep blocking, though their stellar disciplinary document – second-fewest fouls and fewer tackles – suggests they They aren’t about simply kicking individuals.

Photograph by Mert Kanturk/Anadolu Company by way of Getty Photographs

The highest scorers are CF Mohamed Ytabare and LW Max Gradel, who every had 5 league objectives. They’re 37 and 35, respectively, which highlights Sivasspor’s age: they’re the oldest group within the Tremendous League and, on common, 4 years older than Fiorentina. Whereas they’ve loads of expertise, each domestically and internationally (Gradel, RW Ahmed Musa, CBR Aaron Apondengui, CF Jordi Caicedo), Viola might search to place stress on them and hope to put on them down.

It must also be famous that Sivasspor has not performed since February 4. Soccer in Turkey is presently suspended as a result of February 6 earthquake That has killed greater than 50,000 individuals in Turkey and Syria, contaminated greater than twice that quantity, and left thousands and thousands homeless, displaced, or in any other case weak. Whereas Sivas was not in the principle strike space, the earthquake destroyed many buildings. donate to Red Cross / Red Crescent Relief Fund When you can.