Fiorentina and Real Betis played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, a result that leaves the tie firmly in the balance. The data indicates a match of high volume and fine margins; despite Fiorentina holding 56 per cent possession and recording 611 passes to Betis's 482, the visitors generated a superior expected goals figure of 2.72 to the hosts' 1.84 and took 28 total shots to Fiorentina's 23. The Lemeister model had given Fiorentina a 36 per cent chance of winning the first leg, but a late equaliser meant the home side had to settle for a draw.
Real Betis opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Antony found the net, his first goal of the evening. Fiorentina responded quickly, with Robin Gosens levelling the scores in the 34th minute after an assist from Rolando Mandragora. Gosens then struck again in the 42nd minute, this time assisted by Y. Adli, to give Fiorentina a 2-1 lead heading into the interval. The goal came just before a flurry of yellow cards, with Dodô and Pablo Fornals both booked in the 43rd minute.
The second half saw Fiorentina's defence come under sustained pressure. The home side had seven players booked in total, while Betis received four, including a late caution for goalkeeper Francisco Vieites in the 123rd minute. Betis registered 22 shots from inside the box compared to Fiorentina's 13, forcing Fiorentina's goalkeeper David De Gea into eight saves. The pressure eventually told deep into stoppage time; in the 97th minute, Antony provided the assist for A. Ezzalzouli to score the equaliser, making it 2-2 and dramatically altering the complexion of the tie.
The individual performances were headlined by two players. Antony earned the highest match rating of 9.2 for his goal and decisive assist. Robin Gosens was not far behind with a rating of 8.9 for his two goals that twice put Fiorentina in front. David De Gea's eight saves earned him a rating of 8.5, while Rolando Mandragora and Isco both posted 8.2, the former for his assist and the latter for his influence in midfield. Nobel Mendy also impressed for Betis with a 7.7 rating.
Statistically, the match was a contest of contrasting approaches. Fiorentina dominated the passing numbers with 503 accurate passes, but Betis were more efficient in their attacking sequences, posting a higher pass completion rate of 84 per cent despite attempting fewer passes. The visitors also had the edge in corner kicks, winning nine to Fiorentina's 12, and committed 19 fouls to the home side's 14. Both teams had a goals prevented figure of minus 0.88, suggesting the respective goalkeepers faced difficult chances.
The result leaves the tie well poised ahead of the second leg in Spain. Fiorentina will rue their failure to hold onto a lead that lasted from the 42nd minute until the seventh minute of stoppage time. Real Betis, having created the clearer chances over the 90 minutes, will feel they have the momentum. The away goals rule no longer applies in UEFA competition, so a draw in the return leg would send the tie to extra time. The Lemeister model's pre-match projection of a 2-1 home win was undone by Betis's persistence and the late intervention of Antony and A. Ezzalzouli.
