Key Takeaways:
- Bartosz Mazurek netted a hat-trick for Jagiellonia Białystok last night, but his side lost 5-4 on aggregate despite winning 4-2 after extra time
- Fiorentina advanced to the UEFA Conference League last 16, surviving a scare after holding a three-goal lead from the first leg
- Jagiellonia’s impressive away unbeaten record in the competition (W3, D4) was maintained, though their campaign ended at the hands of La Viola
Match Analysis
ACF Fiorentina managed to secure their place in the UEFA Conference League round of 16 following a dramatic encounter with Jagiellonia Białystok, emerging 5-4 victors on aggregate after a 4-2 extra-time defeat in Poland. Starting with a substantial three-goal cushion from the first leg – their joint-largest margin in European competition this season – Fiorentina entered the contest confidently, but the evening quickly escalated into a nervy ordeal.
Jagiellonia threatened to halve the deficit as early as the fifth minute when Afimico Pululu capitalised on a fortunate bounce inside the area, but his tame finish was comfortably gathered by Luca Lezzerini. Despite early pressure, it was the Polish hosts who struck first in the 23rd minute, as Bartosz Mazurek latched onto a ball in stride and found the net on his second attempt after Lezzerini parried his initial strike.
Jagiellonia’s Comeback Effort
Undeterred by historically never overcoming a first-leg loss in European competition, Jagiellonia pressed on. Their persistence paid off just before the interval, with Mazurek recording his second of the match courtesy of a fortuitous deflection off Pietro Comuzzo, leaving Lezzerini wrong-footed as the ball looped into the goal. The tie was now finely poised, with the aggregate difference reduced to a solitary goal at half-time.
Momentum remained with the Polish outfit into the second half. Only four minutes after the break, a deft assist from Pululu enabled Mazurek to complete his hat-trick, finishing from close range and restoring parity across the two legs. Jagiellonia’s revival brought the aggregate score level, forcing Fiorentina into tactical changes in search of control.
Qualified: Round of 16 ✅ pic.twitter.com/Opb8bC3R7A
— ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) February 26, 2026
Decisive Extra Time and Major Incidents
Paolo Vanoli’s alterations after the hour mark yielded some improvement for the visitors, but they struggled to carve out clear opportunities. With regulation time offering no further goals, extra time beckoned in a surprising twist to the evening. Both sides suffered injury setbacks, which resulted in enforced substitutions, but neither could find a breakthrough during the first period of additional play.
The deadlock was finally broken when Fiorentina capitalised on a costly goalkeeping error; Sławomir Abramowicz failed to convincingly clear a corner, leaving Nicolò Fagioli to send a precise half-volley from the edge of the box past the stranded keeper. Their advantage was soon extended as substitute Moise Kean reacted quickest at a corner to further punish the hosts.
Jagiellonia gave themselves hope when Jesús Imaz beat David de Gea from distance in the 118th minute, but any hopes of a final twist faded as Bernardo Vital received a second yellow card for unsporting conduct in stoppage time. Ultimately, the aggregate deficit proved insurmountable for the home side.
Statistical Overview
| Team | Score (AET) | Aggregate Score | Goal Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jagiellonia Białystok | 4 | 4 | Bartosz Mazurek (hat-trick), Jesús Imaz |
| ACF Fiorentina | 2 | 5 | Nicolò Fagioli, Taras Romanczuk (own goal) |
What’s Next
This hard-fought result halts Fiorentina’s sequence of three straight victories across all competitions, but crucially keeps their European hopes alive. La Viola will now look ahead to a last-16 clash against either Strasbourg or Raków Częstochowa.
For Jagiellonia Białystok, their valiant effort was not enough to replicate last season’s run to the quarter-finals. However, with their unbeaten away record in this term’s Conference League still intact, the Polish side exit the competition with pride.
