Fiorentina met Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in their Europa League clash at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Both teams had already qualified from Group E, but were battling it out to secure top spot.
Yevhen Konoplyanka gave Dnipro an early lead, but Joaquin drew the home side level three minutes before half time.
With 13 minutes left to play, Juan Cuadrado scored what turned out to be the winning goal for Fiorentina, as they finished top of the group.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole’s live text commentary of the Europa League match between Fiorentina and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk at the Stadio Artemio Franchi
Both teams have already made it through to the knockout stages, but there is still plenty to play for, and they will want to finish top in order to avoid the teams that will coming down from the Champions League. Fiorentina only need to avoid a defeat to finish top of the group, while the away side need a victory to overtake them in first place.
TEAM NEWS: Fiorentina have rested Giuseppe Rossi, with Brazilian Ryder Matos getting a chance upfront. Juan Cuadrado and Joaquin will support him in attack. Dnipro’s main goal threat will come in the form of Roman Zozulya, who leads the line for the visitors.
FIORENTINA XI: Neto, Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Savic, Pasqual, Fernandez, Ambrosini, Valero, Cuadrado, Matos, Joaquin
FIORENTINA SUBS: Munua, Compper, Tomovic, Pizarro, Aquilani, Ilicic, Rossi
DNIPRO XI: Boyko, Fedetskiy, Mandzyuk, Cheberyachko, Vlad, Kankava, Rotan, Gama, Politylo, Konoplyanka, Zozulya
DNIPRO SUBS: Vartsaba, Kravchenko, Kulakov, Kobakhidze, Blyznychenko, Kalinic, Seleznyov
Fiorentina claimed a 2-1 win when these teams met in October, and the same result tonight will send them through as group winners.
The home side remain unbeaten in the group stages of this year’s Europa League, having claimed four wins and a draw from their five fixtures. Dnipro have won four of their five games, with their sole defeat coming against the Italians.
PREDICTION: We should be in for an entertaining match this evening, with two teams who have scored plenty of goals in the group. I feel this will be a hard fought clash, but I am backing the home side to triumph, with a 2-1 win how I see this game ending.
It hasn't been the best week for Italian teams in Europe. Juventus and Napoli were both knocked out of the Champions League yesterday and could meet either of these two sides in the later stages of the Europa League. AC Milan were the one side from Serie A who did make it through to the last 16, after holding on to claim a goalless draw against Ajax, despite playing with 10 men from the 22nd minute of their match.
Both teams have entered the ground out of the tunnel and are making their way across the pitch.
The usual pre-match rituals including the Europa League theme song and the players shaking hands have taken place, with the start of the game just moments away.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
The home side have seen plenty of the ball in the opening stages, but are yet to create any goalscoring opportunities.
Fiorentina have a good chance to get the ball into the middle, as they win a free kick on the left hand side of their opponents area.
CHANCE! Pasqual delivers a good ball into the middle which Ambrosini rises to meet, but he flicks his header just wide of the post.
The visitors have a free kick of their own in the final third, which is whipped into the middle by Rotan, but none of his teammates can get on the end of his cross, and Neto is able to claim.
CHANCE! Fedetskiy wastes a big chance for his side, as he receives a cross at the back post, but blazes his shot high and wide of the goal.
There have been a lot of fouls in the early stages of this game, and Fedetskiy is the latest player to give away a free kick for a poor challenge on Cuadrado.
Pasqual steps up to take the free kick, but his attempt fails to beat the first man and Dnipro clear.
After a spell of possession for the hosts, Ryder Matos attempts to burst into the box, but the Dnipro defence manage to hold strong and stop his run.
GOAL! Fiorentina 0-1 Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (Konoplyanka)
Dnipro have taken the lead, and it's a wonderful goal by Konoplyanka. He picks it up on the left hand side, before exchanging passes with Rotan on the edge of the box, and bending a strike past the keeper into the bottom corner.
Fiorentina get the ball into Dnipro's box, and Fernandez latches onto it, before appearing to be barged over. Nothing was given though and the visitors managed to clear the danger.
The hosts haven't panicked since going behind and are still keeping hold of the ball, looking to pass their way through the defence.
Dnipro are looking to play on the break, and as they steal the ball in the midfield, they burst forward in numbers, but their final delivery into the box is poor and misses everyone.
YELLOW CARD! Ambrosini picks up the first booking of the evening.
The home side win a free kick on the left hand side of the penalty area, after Cuadrado is barged to the floor.
Valero takes the set piece, but it is headed over the bar by Roncaglia.
YELLOW CARD! Fernandez is the second Fiorentina player to see a card in this match.
Roncaglia slices open the visitor's defence with a low pass, but it is just beyond the reach of Cuadrado.
Ambrosini goes sliding in and commits another foul in the centre of midfield. He is going to have to be careful this evening, as the referee has shown he isn't afraid to show a card.
The home side have another spell of possession, and in the end Roncaglia decides to have a strike from 30 yards, but he fires his attempt over the bar.
Matos is the latest player for the home side who feels he has been fouled as he weaves his way into the box, but the referee doesn't give anything, and in fairness, he went down far too easily.
CHANCE! Cuadrado comes close for the home side as he latches onto a cross at the back post, but the keeper does well to keep out his low strike.
Fiorentina are starting to open up Dnipro now, and Matos has a chance when he heads on a long ball, but it is straight at Boyko, who claims with ease.
CHANCE! The home side win a corner, and Valero's delivery is flicked on to the back post where Matos is waiting, but he can't get over the ball and heads it over the bar.
YELLOW CARD! Roncaglia is the third Fiorentina player to pick up a booking in this first half.
CHANCE! Dnipro launch a long free kick into the box and it breaks to Politylo, who lashes a strike on goal, but Neto is on hand to beat the ball away.
GOAL! Fiorentina 1-1 Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (Joaquin)
The home side have drawn level just before half time! Cuadrado whips in a fantastic cross from the right hand side, and Joaquin is on hand at the back post to head past the keeper. It was a fine piece of play by Fiorentina, who deservedly have their goal.
There is going to be one minute of time added on at the end of the half.
HALF-TIME: Fiorentina 1-1 Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
In the battle for first place in Group E, we are level at half time. Fiorentina dominated for long spells, but fell behind to Konoplyanka's fine effort, but with three minutes left, Joaquin gave them the goal they deserved.
If the scores stay the same then Fiorentina will go through as the group winners. The away side will have to push forward more in the next 45 minutes, instead of trying to hit their opponents on the counter attack.
The referee has handed out a number of bookings to Fiorentina's players already, and it is entirely within the realm of possibility that we could be seeing a Red card at some point this evening.
UPDATE: In the group's other match, Pandurii Targu Jiu are sharing a goalless draw with Pacos de Ferreira. Both of those teams of course, have no chance of making it through this evening.
Dnipro kick off and get the game restarted.
Fiorentina put together a good move, with Matos picking up the ball on the edge of the area, but as he slides it through, Cuadrado takes a heavy touch and it goes out for a goal kick.
The visitors have a free kick in a promising position deep inside the Fiorentina half.
CHANCE! Konoplyanka fires in the set piece from out wide and Neto has to be alert to make the save, with the ball travelling through a host of bodies in the box.
Zozulya looks like he is in some pain, after Ambrosini fell awkwardly over the top of him. He has gone off to receive treatment on the touchline.
Fiorentina are dominating the game as they did in the first half, but will need to be careful of Dnipro's threat on the counter attack.
Cuadrado tests his luck for the home side, by firing in a low shot after cutting inside from the left, but his effort fails to test the keeper and heads wide of the goal.
Ambrosini is next to come close, as a cross from the left falls invitingly for him to hit, however he doesn't get over the ball, and lifts the shot over.
The ball breaks to Cuadrado, who is just outside the box, and he spots Boyko off his line, but his attempted chip lacks any power and the keeper claims.
CHANCE! The home side have seen all of the ball this half, and they eventually work it to Fernandez who is 25 yards out. He fires in a curling shot, but it is too close to the keeper who does well to keep hold of the ball.
SUBSTITUTION: Dnipro make a change, with Kulakov replacing Gama.
Fiorentina have a great opportunity, as they win a free kick on the edge of the area.
YELLOW CARD! Kulakov is booked for the foul on Matos.
Pasqual takes the set piece and fires it straight into the wall. That was a real waste for the home side.
CHANCE! Dnipro continue to prove that they are a real threat on the break, as Konoplyanka gets on the ball and fires in a strike that Neto does well to push away.
SUBSTITUTION: The home side have made a change, with Pizarro coming on for Fernandez.
The visitors have come into this game more in the past few minutes and know that they need to score a late goal if they are to overhaul Fiorentina from the top of the group.
Seleznyov has a glimpse of a chance as he gets his head to a cross, but he can't direct his effort goalwards.
SUBSTITUTION: Ilicic is on for Fiorentina replacing Matos.
SUBSTITUTION: Dnipro also make a change, as Kalinic replaces Vlad.
GOAL! Fiorentina 2-1 Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (Cuadrado)
Cuadrado looks to have secured first place in the group for Fiorentina. He collects the ball just outside the box, before firing home a powerful low drive beyond the reach of the keeper. It was a fine finish and the visitors have it all to do now.
SUBSTITUTION: Fiorentina make their final change of the evening, as the goalscorer Cuadrado is replaced by Aquilani.
The home side look in complete control of the match and Dnipro are finding it hard to get a foot on the ball.
YELLOW CARD! Seleznyov picks up a booking for a late challenge on Pizarro.
We are seeing a few poor tackles as this game comes to an end, with Zozulya the next player to make a foul, but he escapes without a booking.
Ilicic fires wide for Fiorentina, after the keeper could only palm a cross into his direction. It wasn't the best piece of goalkeeping, but luckily for Boyko, the strike was poor.
We are going to have three minutes of injury time.
FULL-TIME: Fiorentina 2-1 Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
Fiorentina have come from behind to claim top spot in the group. Cuadrado's fine goal gave them the three points and means that Dnipro will have to settle for second place.
That's all we have time for here. Please stay with us here at Sports Mole for all of this evening's Europa League action, but from me, it's goodbye!
