UECL: Panathinaikos Edge Fiorentina in Thrilling 3-2 Conference League Victory

Panathinaikos secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League last-16 tie, with Tete's second-half strike proving decisive.

Panathinaikos secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League last-16 tie, thanks to Tete's decisive second-half strike. This win extended Panathinaikos' impressive unbeaten run at home to 15 consecutive matches (W12, D3).

Rui Vitoria's side, who had previously come from behind to defeat Vikingur Reykjavik in the play-off round, started strongly against Fiorentina. Their early dominance paid off within five minutes, as Karol Swiderski beautifully swept Nemanja Maksimovic's clever pass into the top corner. Panathinaikos doubled their lead in the 19th minute, with Maksimovic capitalizing on a mistake from Pietro Terracciano to tap home from close range.

Despite trailing 2-0, Fiorentina refused to give up and promptly launched a comeback. Raffaele Palladino's team scored twice in three minutes to level the match. Lucas Beltran headed Robin Gosens' cross into the top corner, and Nicolo Fagioli equalized with a powerful drive that deflected past Bartlomiej Dragowski.

Panathinaikos win a thriller in Athens 😤#UECL pic.twitter.com/PdpE7Mamb2

— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) March 6, 2025

As the first half drew to a close, the frenetic pace subsided, and both teams settled into a more subdued rhythm. Matias Moreno's close-range finish was disallowed for offside, ensuring the sides went into halftime level at 2-2.

The second half commenced with Panathinaikos firmly in control, and their relentless pressure eventually yielded a breakthrough. Filip Djuricic's cut-back was expertly converted by Tete, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner for his 11th goal of the season. This sparked the hosts' momentum, but Fiorentina goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano stood firm, denying Azzedine Ounahi's deflected strike as the game entered its final 25 minutes.

Panathinaikos continued to push forward, seeking to extend their advantage ahead of the return leg in Florence. They came agonizingly close to scoring a fourth goal when Djuricic curled a shot against the inside of the post late on. Ultimately, neither side could alter the scoreline in the closing stages, as both defenses held firm. The result extended Fiorentina's dismal record against Greek opposition to just one win in seven matches (D3, L3).