Views: 37

The challenge tomorrow night in the Conference League between Fiorentina and Betis takes us back to the 1996/97 Cup Winners’ Cup match between Fiorentina and Barcelona.

The match tomorrow in the second leg of the Conference League semifinal between Fiorentina and Real Betis Sevilla, takes us back to the legendary match in the 1990s between Fiorentina and Barcelona, the second leg of the semifinal of the former Cup Winners’ Cup, where Fernando Couto and Guardiola dashed the dreams of glory of Claudio Ranieri’s Viola.

Fiorentina-Barcelona 1996/97, the dream of the Viola to reach the Cup Winners’ Cup final was extinguished by Ronaldo and Guardiola’s Blaugrana

Tomorrow, the return leg of the Conference League semifinal between Fiorentina and Real Betis Sevilla will be played. Since the establishment of the third European competition in 2021, many have thought of it as a modern edition of the old and never forgotten Cup Winners’ Cup. It was precisely in the former second European competition that Fiorentina came close to reaching the final, exactly in the 1996/97 edition, against the Barcelona of Ronaldo who was then the winner in the final against the holders PSG. Let’s relive the return match Fiorentina-Barcelona, which was played at the Franchi on April 24, 1997.

Fiorentina reached the semifinals after eliminating the Romanians of Gloria Bistrita, the Czechs of Sparta Prague, and none other than Benfica, one of the favorites of the tournament. Thus, the Viola reached the semifinals in front of the Barcelona of Ronaldo, who in that season was putting up incredible numbers, with a total of 45 goals scored in all competitions. It was in that match that the Phenomenon became known to the Italian public, only to see him in action a few months later wearing the Inter shirt.

In the first leg at Camp Nou, the Viola drew 1-1, with Batistuta equalizing the initial lead by Nadal. With the draw secured away, the Viola arrived charged for the return leg, with a great chance to reach the final. However, the experience and high technical quality of Bobby Robson’s Blaugrana prevailed: already in the first half, Barcelona secured the final with two goals within 5 minutes, Fernando Couto in the 30th minute and captain Guardiola in the 35th minute. A Ronaldo, who despite not scoring, literally drove the Viola defense crazy, forcing them to intervene on the edge of a booking.

At the final whistle of the esteemed referee Fisk, there was regret for the Viola of a great opportunity wasted, but still for having at least held their own against one of the strongest teams in the world at the time with the then strongest player in the world.