BIALYSTOK, POLAND — Roberto Piccoli's late penalty capped a ruthless second-half display as Fiorentina dismantled Jagiellonia Bialystok 3-0 at Stadion Miejski, turning territorial dominance into a clinical away victory in the UEFA Conference League. The Italian visitors absorbed relentless Polish pressure before striking three times after the break to silence the home crowd and claim maximum points.
Jagiellonia controlled 70.8% of possession and pinned Fiorentina back for long stretches, yet the statistics told a damning story of wasteful finishing. Despite 11 attempts, the hosts managed just zero shots on target, their attacking intent repeatedly thwarted by Pietro Comuzzo and Luca Ranieri's defensive partnership. Fiorentina goalkeeper Luca Lezzerini enjoyed a quiet evening, untested throughout as his backline snuffed out danger with ruthless efficiency.
The breakthrough arrived eight minutes into the second half when Ranieri rose highest to power home a header from the right side of the six-yard box. Jacopo Fazzini's pinpoint cross following a corner found the defender unmarked, and his finish into the top right corner gave Slawomir Abramowicz no chance. The goal punctured Jagiellonia's confidence, their possession suddenly looking less threatening as Fiorentina grew into the contest.
Moments before the opener, Jagiellonia had come agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock themselves. Jesús Imaz rattled the right post from six yards following Bartlomiej Wdowik's dangerous cross, while Samed Bazdar's header from the resulting scramble sailed narrowly wide. Those misses would prove costly as the Viola seized control.
Rolando Mandragora doubled the advantage in the 65th minute with a moment of set-piece brilliance. Standing over a free kick 25 yards from goal, the midfielder curled a magnificent left-footed effort into the top left corner, leaving Abramowicz rooted to the spot. The strike showcased Mandragora's technical quality and effectively ended the contest as a competitive affair.
Wdowik had struck the left post with his own free kick attempt just minutes earlier, but Fiorentina's clinical edge proved the difference. Where Jagiellonia squandered opportunities, the visitors converted theirs with ruthless precision. Giovanni Fabbian nearly added a third when his right-footed effort from the center of the box forced a smart save from Abramowicz in the 39th minute, Mandragora's cross picking out the midfielder's run.
The final blow arrived nine minutes from time when Piccoli drew a foul from Dawid Drachal inside the penalty area. The striker dusted himself off and confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the top left corner, completing the rout. Wdowik received a yellow card moments earlier for a frustrated challenge on Fabiano Parisi, summing up Jagiellonia's growing desperation.
Fiorentina's defensive discipline complemented their attacking efficiency perfectly. Despite surrendering possession, they limited Jagiellonia to speculative efforts from distance. Bartosz Mazurek and Álex Pozo saw shots blocked in the 71st and 75th minutes respectively, but clear-cut chances remained elusive for the hosts. The visitors recorded six shots on target from 13 attempts, their 46% accuracy rate highlighting superior decision-making in the final third.
The match turned physical in the closing stages, with 15 fouls committed by Fiorentina and 19 by Jagiellonia reflecting the hosts' mounting frustration. Lezzerini collected a yellow card in the 76th minute, though his evening's work had been minimal. Niccol'ò Fortini and Cher Ndour controlled proceedings in midfield, the latter instrumental in Fiorentina's counter-attacking threat.
Jagiellonia's recent form offered little encouragement heading into the fixture, with draws against AZ Alkmaar and previous struggles evident. Their inability to convert territorial superiority into genuine scoring opportunities exposed limitations against organized opposition. Leon Flach and Kamil Jóźwiak worked tirelessly in midfield but lacked the cutting edge to unlock Fiorentina's rearguard.
The Viola's substitutions maintained their intensity, with Fabiano Parisi and Marin Pongracic introduced in the 68th minute to shore up the defensive structure. Jack Harrison and Ranieri made way, the latter departing after his crucial opening goal. The changes demonstrated tactical acumen from the visitors, who managed the game's tempo expertly after establishing their advantage.
Fiorentina's away performance showcased the qualities required for European success: defensive resilience, clinical finishing, and tactical discipline. Their ability to withstand sustained pressure before striking decisively proved the hallmark of an experienced side. Jagiellonia's dominance in possession statistics masked their fundamental inability to threaten, a harsh lesson in the importance of quality over quantity.
This victory caps a fine run for Fiorentina before facing Pisa on February 22, their confidence surging at precisely the right moment in their campaign.