Career of Matteo “II Sarto” Moretti

[Soapy]

this gotta be the most african italian team of all time

Fiorentina, you have a fan in me

[Sonny]

Brilliant choice of club. I did choose the same a good month ago, I think. Never developed into a story though, but it was fun trying to take this great club from bottom to safety.

A few good italian talents to build on too. Kean, of course, but also Ndour, Fagioli, Comuzzo, Fazzini etc. Could have seen myself indulge into a story as well, but I usually don't last long in Italy with the generic club names, kits etc. Good luck with this!

The clubs not being real have hurt the realism at times but since I make my own graphics it is making that easier to swallow.

[Sonny]

this gotta be the most african italian team of all time

Fiorentina, you have a fan in me

We have a few more not mentioned yet. Lamptey from Ghana, and Eddy Kouadio from Ivory Coast,

[RMJH4]

I've got my 98-99 Nintendo jersey, Batistuta on the back, here with me. Following

oh man that's a collectors item!

Nice to see Sonny try to bring those glory days back here.

[Sonny]

I've got my 98-99 Nintendo jersey, Batistuta on the back, here with me. Following

oh man that's a collectors item!

Nice to see Sonny try to bring those glory days back here.

It is wild to see what AFC has turned into irl. They were always a classic team to see in Italy, not a top team but one with big moments and always around.

[Sonny]

[Sonny]

Conference League Round of 16 Preview: Fiorentina vs Mainz 05
Fiorentina meet German side Mainz 05 for the second time this season



March 10, 2026 | Diego Ottaviano


Florence, Italy - As spring approaches and the nights in Florence come back alive, Matteo Moretti’s Fiorentina prepare to welcome FSV Mainz 05 to the Artemio Franchi for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League Round of 16 tie on March 12, with the return leg to follow a week later on March 19.

Moretti’s appointment on February 10, 2026, marked a turning point for La Viola. Unbeaten since taking over, he has swiftly lifted Fiorentina out of a certain relegation battle in Serie A and instilled a fighting identity into a squad that was broken before his arrival. Moretti’s aggressive attitude, combined with bringing Italian tactical basics back to the squad, has been met with renewed energy from players and fans alike.

Their opponents, Mainz 05, arrive from a mixed domestic campaign. The German outfit have struggled in the Bundesliga this season, much like Fiorentina, they sit in the lower half of the table. Mainz 05 are safe from relegation but only have Europe left to win anything of meaning this campaign. On their way to the last 16, Mainz punched above their weight in the Conference League group stage, even clinching direct qualification without having to pass through February playoffs for the first time in their history.

From Fiorentina’s perspective, Moretti will be eyeing this tie as a huge opportunity to stamp his mark on European competition and his claim for the permanent job in the future. His side have begun to enjoy a coherence that was absent earlier in the season, and at home they’ll be confident of dictating the rhythm and making life difficult for the visitors. The task for Mainz on Thursday is to keep the tie alive and perhaps take a lead back to Germany for the second leg.

These two do have recent history against each other, playing earlier this season in the league stage of the Conference League. Mainz won 2-1 on a 95th-minute goal by Jae-Sung Lee in a match where Fiorentina controlled possession, chances, and the better xG.



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[Sonny]

[RMJH4]

Nice confident win over Parma. Another 2 wins would be nice

[Sonny]

Nice confident win over Parma. Another 2 wins would be nice

Yes they would but I believe a twist is coming (post will be up late tonight possibly). Also the bottom of the league is so bad, I might only need one more win to stay up lol.