Fiorentina booked their spot in the UEFA Conference League semi-finals after edging past Slovenian side NK Celje with a nervy 2-2 draw at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, progressing 4-3 on aggregate.
Despite being made to work hard by the competition outsiders, the Italian side advanced from a UEFA quarter-final for the 10th time in 11 attempts and remain unbeaten in their last six games across all competitions.
Fiorentina started brightly, nearly opening the scoring in the 11th minute when Marin Pongracic headed over from a corner. But Celje grew into the game and came close midway through the half, only to be denied by a brilliant save from David De Gea, who continues to shine between the sticks.
Mandragora eventually gave Fiorentina the lead, finishing coolly into the bottom corner after a precise assist from Pongracic.
Celje hit back early in the second half. Aljoša Matko levelled the score with a composed finish in the 54th minute, before Klemen Nemanic’s powerful header gave the visitors a stunning lead in the 66th minute—briefly putting the tie in their favour.
But Fiorentina responded immediately. Moise Kean produced a moment of brilliance, curling home a strike just a minute later to restore parity and ultimately seal Fiorentina’s passage to the final four.
Celje’s fairytale run; the best-ever European showing by a Slovenian club comes to an end, while Fiorentina extend their unbeaten streak in two-legged Conference League ties to 12.
