Conference League official line-ups: Fiorentina vs. AEK Athens
Paolo Vanoli is seeking his first Fiorentina victory with Edin Dzeko, Albert Gudmundsson and David De Gea in the Conference League against Luka Jovic’s AEK Athens.
It kicks off at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at 20.00 GMT.
The Viola have had a disastrous campaign, sacking Stefano Pioli and still without a Serie A victory all season.
They had started well in the Conference League with wins over Sigma Olomouc and Rapid Vienna, but fumbled a lead to lose 2-1 at Mainz under caretaker manager Daniele Galloppa.
Since taking charge, Vanoli has overseen Serie A stalemates against Genoa and Juventus, while this is his UEFA debut as a coach.
There are numerous injuries to deal with, missing Dodo, Robin Gosens and Tariq Lamptey, plus Roberto Piccoli not fully fit with a sprained ankle.
Vanoli already announced that Dzeko and De Gea would start, as their experience was badly needed in this difficult moment.
They are joined by Rolando Mandragora and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia in midfield, while Albert Gudmundsson is in attack.
AEK Athens are packed with former Serie A players, including ex-Viola striker Luka Jovic, former Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, Roberto Pereyra, and ex-Cagliari midfielder Razvan Marin.
Frantzdy Pierrot and Dereck Kutesa are carrying injuries, while ex-Inter midfielder Joao Mario is one of several players not on the UEFA squad list because they were signed after the deadline.
Their results have been mixed in the Conference League so far, losing 3-1 at NK Celje, crushing Aberdeen FC 6-0 and then drawing 1-1 against Shamrock Rovers.
Fiorentina vs. AEK Athens line-ups
Fiorentina: De Gea; Pongracic, Comuzzo, Ranieri; Fortini, Mandragora, Nicolussi Caviglia, Ndour, Parisi; Gudmundsson, Dzeko
Fiorentina bench: Lezzerini, Martinelli, Sohm, Pablo Mari, Kean, Fazzini, Kospo, Richardson, Viti, Fagioli, Kouadio, Piccoli
AEK Athens: Strakosha; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilios; Marin, Pineda; Gacinovic, Pereyra, Koita; Jovic
AEK bench: Angelopoulos, Brignoli, Grujic, Mantalos, Vida, Penrice, Kosidis, Chrysopoulos, Zini
Ref: Jones (ENG)
Player statistic
| 35' | Mijat Gacinovic (Assist: Luka Jovic) | |||
| Albert Gudmundsson | 44' |
| 62' | Roberto Pereyra | |||
| 64' | Stavros Pilios | |||
| Marin Pongracic | 69' | |||
| Rolando Mandragora | 90+7' |

