Conference League Final Laudation: How Fiorentina Beat Celje To Reach The Semi-finals

By Author: Samina Khan
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The Conference League Final 2025 edges closer as Fiorentina secured their place in the semi-finals for a third consecutive season. Following a thrilling second leg against Celje. In a tie that showcased the fine margins of knockout football.
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Marians Pahars highlighted the decisive role of an incisive striker and intelligent movement in behind qualities embodied in Moise Kean’s match-winning contribution. Despite a spirited comeback from Celje, who pushed Fiorentina to their limits. It was Kean’s moment of individual brilliance that ultimately tipped the balance. Sealing a 4-3 aggregate victory and preserving Fiorentina’s hopes of lifting the trophy.

Conference League Final 2025: Fiorentina’s High ...
... Press and Defensive Discipline

Fiorentina's journey toward the Conference League Final 2025 was marked by a relentless high press that unsettled Celje from the outset. As Marians Pahars observed, in the first half, Fiorentina often forced Celje to go long and lose possession. Which showcased a well-drilled defensive structure. The Italian side implemented a clear player-for-player marking scheme. Spearheaded by Moise Kean’s energy in the first line of pressure.
This approach was crucial in suffocating Celje’s buildup, with the defensive line. Particularly Pietro Comuzzo pushing high to press their opponents aggressively. A perfect example of this came in clip one. Where Comuzzo chased his marker to the corner flag, a defining moment of Fiorentina’s disciplined 5-3-2 shape. The high press paid off almost immediately. Culminating in a Kean header at the far post following a corner earned through this pressure. Read Also Conference League Final 2025 Exhibit

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Conference League Final 2025: Counter-Pressing Sparks Quick Transitions

Pahars also highlighted the effectiveness of Fiorentina’s counter-press. Another essential tool on their path to the Conference League Final 2025. As Kean’s alertness and quick reactions allowed Fiorentina to instantly recover possession and turn defence into attack. His sharp movements, both centrally and toward the flanks.
They were instrumental in exploiting space behind the Celje backline. Every time the ball was regained, Fiorentina looked to play forward with intent. Aided by coordinated off-the-ball runs that disoriented Celje’s defence. Their transitions were fast and purposeful, with Kean often the catalyst. Either by stretching defenders or receiving the ball in dangerous areas.

Conference League Title 2025: Back Three’s Boldness Underpins Build-Up Play

Another standout feature in Fiorentina’s performance en route to the Conference League Final 2025 was the courage shown by their back three in stepping into midfield with the ball. Comuzzo, Marin Pongračić, and captain Luca Ranieri were proactive not just in defending but also in initiating attacks. Their willingness to push forward under pressure added numerical superiority in central areas.
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And allowed Fiorentina to bypass Celje’s mid-block effectively. Pahars emphasized Pongračić’s contributions in particular, who twice advanced deep into opposition territory to progress play. In the first example, his line-breaking pass set Kean free in behind. While in the second, he combined with Rolando Mandragora to set up the opening goal. Highlighting how brave positioning and execution from the back can unlock stubborn defences.

Conference League Final 2025: Clever Midfield Rotations Create Openings

Fiorentina’s attacking success in their quest for the Conference League Final 2025 was also built upon smart positional interchanges in midfield. As Pahars pointed out, the team used controlled possession. To methodically prepare their attacks, aided by intelligent rotations involving Mandragora and Albert Gudmundsson. These midfielders frequently split wide or dropped deeper to draw Celje’s players out of position, opening up lanes for forward runners.
This spatial manipulation made it easier for defenders like Pongračić to find vertical passes into advanced areas. It was this synchronisation between defence and midfield that allowed Fiorentina. To break Celje’s compact shape and feed dynamic attackers like Kean and Fabiano Parisi.

Conference League Final 2025: Threats from Wide and Deep Runners

In addition to movement in central areas, Fiorentina’s run toward the Conference League Final 2025 featured dangerous attacking patterns from wide and deep positions. Both strikers and midfielders, as well as left wing-back Fabiano Parisi made repeated runs into the half-spaces. Particularly the gaps between Celje’s centre-backs and full-backs. Pahars noted that these runs were a persistent problem for the Slovenian side.

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Who struggled to track them effectively. These aggressive movements not only created confusion but also stretched Celje's defensive structure. Allowing Fiorentina to build momentum and apply sustained pressure. Their ability to penetrate in these areas was one of the most effective tools in their attacking arsenal.

Conference League Crowning 2025: Moise Kean the Standout Performer

Perhaps the most influential figure in Fiorentina’s push toward the Conference League Final 2025 was Moise Kean. Whose all-round display drew special praise from Pahars. Kean was fantastic he made the difference he said. The forward’s ability to drop deep and hold up the ball offered a reliable outlet under pressure.
Allowing Fiorentina to relieve defensive strain and launch counter-attacks. Equally impressive was his movement in behind. Which constantly asked questions of the Celje backline. Whether running onto through balls or drifting into wide areas to isolate defenders. Kean's tactical awareness and physicality made him a constant threat. His performance embodied the blend of intensity and intelligence that defined Fiorentina’s successful night.

Tactical Shift and Kean’s Second-Half Evolution

According to Marians Pahars, Moise Kean's influence grew significantly in the second half as his role shifted both tactically and strategically. With Fiorentina opting to sit deeper after the break, Kean became the key outlet in transitional moments. Rather than occupying central areas alone, he began to drift wide.
Acting as the focal point for counter-attacks and posing a direct threat by driving inside from the flanks. This adaptation paid off when he latched onto a ball in behind timed perfectly following another intelligent movement from Albert Gudmundsson. And cut inside to fire in a superb goal. A crucial equaliser on the night that helped swing the momentum back toward Fiorentina.

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Celje’s Courageous Fightback

Despite Fiorentina’s lead in the tie, Celje mounted an impressive second-half resurgence that briefly threatened to turn the quarter-final on its head. They struck twice in quick succession, catching their Italian opponents off guard. Pahars was full of praise for the Slovenian side’s resolve and tactical bravery. All credit to Celje for coming back into it by blocking the centre and not allowing Fiorentina. The time and space to prepare their attacks well as they did in the first half he explained. By forcing Fiorentina to play hurriedly, Celje took control of the tempo and disrupted the rhythm that had defined the first-half dominance of their opponents.

Svit Sešlar’s Midfield Intelligence

A pivotal figure in Celje’s fightback was Svit Sešlar, who began to operate more fluidly between the lines in the second half. His clever positioning and composure under pressure allowed Celje to play through midfield with greater effectiveness. Celje started to get out through the middle a lot more as Sešlar dropped between the lines noted Pahars. It was through these central combinations that Celje found attacking joy, increasingly confident in their ability to bypass Fiorentina’s press. This tactical flexibility gave them the tools to control more phases of play and move the ball into advanced areas more consistently.

Technical Precision in Attack

Celje's equalising goal on the night was a prime example of their technical quality and fluid attacking movement. In a fleeting but brilliant moment, Sešlar combined with Mark Zabukovnik before feeding Aljoša Matko in a seamless third-man run. The sequence, built on one-touch interplay and precise timing. Reflected the kind of collective awareness and sharp execution that had defined Celje’s second-half performance. This phase of play captured how a well-structured midfield and forward line could dismantle. Even a well-organised back five when their movements are synchronized and purposeful.

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Risks Behind Celje’s Aggression

However, Celje’s newfound attacking momentum came at a price. Their bold strategy of committing numbers forward left them increasingly vulnerable to swift counterattacks. This risk-reward balance was exposed just minutes after their equaliser. When Kean once again exploited the open space left behind.
As Celje surged forward, Kean’s pace and timing allowed him to find room and capitalise in devastating fashion. It was a classic case of over-commitment, where attacking ambition left defensive gaps too wide to cover. Ultimately leading to Fiorentina regaining control of the tie and edging through in dramatic fashion.

The Art of Running in Behind

Reflecting more broadly on the tie’s tactical themes. Pahars emphasized the technical and mental demands of well-timed runs in behind defensive lines. He underlined that success in these moments relies on more than just athleticism. It’s a collective understanding between the player on the ball and those making the run. To gain success from players running behind, the players have to be all united he said.
Citing Mandragora’s goal as an example, Pahars pointed out how movement triggers reactions from defenders that create space. He stressed the importance of training scenarios that simulate these dynamics. Pushing players to refine their timing, positioning, and decision-making in live-action situations. Ultimately, it’s a combination of instinct, intelligence, and coaching guidance that allows players to thrive in these decisive moments.

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