Fiorentina vs West Ham predictions: Viola set for Conference League success

- Both clubs previously lifted the Cup Winners' Cup
- Fiorentina's Arthur Cabral is the Europa Conference League's joint-top scorer
- Recommended bet: Fiorentina to win and both teams to score

Fiorentina and West Ham meet in Prague on Wednesday for the honour of being crowned the second winners of the Europa Conference League.

The inaugural champions were Roma, who almost backed it up last week by winning the Europa League against Sevilla, only to fall short on penalties.

That game fell into farce as both teams conspired to upset the other and pile the pressure on referee Anthony Taylor. However, this pair's enthusiastic runs to the final suggest Wednesday's game will be played in a fairer spirit.

This is the first leg of a Serie A-Premier League double-header, with Inter Milan meeting Manchester City in Saturday's Champions League final.

With Fiorentina playing as recently as Friday, they should be game-ready, whereas the Hammers could be undercooked after 10 days off.

Team news

Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano named a strong starting XI for Friday's final Serie A game at Sassuolo, but may regret that call.

Winger Nicolas Gonzalez collided with a goalpost when scoring his side's third goal against the Neroverdi, but Italiano is hopeful it is nothing more serious than a bruise.

However, there is a bigger worry over midfielder Gaetano Castrovilli, who hurt his knee and the Viola boss admitted he was "frightened" due to a "strange movement".

West Ham manager David Moyes' only absentee is likely to be Gianluca Scamacca, who missed last week's warm weather training trip to Portugal as he recovers from a knee injury.

The stats

Fiorentina finished eighth in Serie A, winning their last two games, beating Roma 2-1 and then Sassuolo 3-1.

Italiano's team came from behind to overcome Basel in the semi-finals. Their second-leg success was their fifth European game in a row where both teams have scored and they may feel they have a point to prove in finals, having lost last month's Coppa Italia showpiece 2-1 to Inter Milan.

Striker Arthur Cabral is the competition's joint-top scorer with seven goals, one more than West Ham's Michail Antonio.

Antonio's tally has helped his side remain unbeaten in the competition, but they have conceded in three of their last four European games. 

They too will be desperate to show they can get the job done after falling in the semi-finals of last season's Europa League.

West Ham finished 14th in the Premier League and lost their last four away games in the competition. 

Both clubs have previously experienced European success, with Fiorentina winning the Cup Winners' Cup in 1960-61 and the Hammers claiming the same competition in 1964-65.

Prediction

These sides are clearly evenly matched and will both feel they can lift this trophy in Prague.

The introduction of the Conference League was arguably to give clubs like Fiorentina and West Ham a chance to win European silverware and, unlike the Europa League final, Wednesday's match should be an open and exciting game.

The Viola's entertaining wins over Roma and Sassuolo suggest that will suit them and they could emulate the Giallorossi by becoming the second Italian champions in this competition in its two editions.

Back Fiorentina to win and both teams to score at 17/4 with LiveScore Bet.