Fiorentina kept their UEFA Conference League (UEFA Conference League) ambitions alive after coming from behind to defeat Raków Czestochowa 2-1 at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie.

Raków started brightly and had the first sight of goal within three minutes, as Tomasz Pienko tip-toed through the Fiorentina box and prodded a tame effort that was comfortably saved by Oliver Christensen at the near post. That early chance would be Raków’s only meaningful threat in the first half.

Fiorentina gradually gained control, with Oliwier Zych tipping Robin Gosen’s flick over the bar and later placing a header straight at Christensen. Jacopo Fazzini came closest to breaking the deadlock before the half-hour mark but volleyed over from 12 yards following Fabiano Parisi’s mazy run and cross. Parisi himself also tested Zych from long range in stoppage time.

The second half started with Raków threatening again, as Jonatan Brunes almost punished Fiorentina but lost his balance and skewed his shot wide from inside the box.

The warning proved costly for La Viola in the 60th minute, when Brunes converted a flick-on from Patryk Makuch to put the visitors ahead.

Fiorentina responded immediately, equalising within two minutes through Cher Ndour, who produced a thumping finish from the edge of the box to send the ball into the top corner.

Roberto Piccoli went on a solo run to try and give Fiorentina the lead, but his effort was denied when it struck the crossbar.

Late drama came when Raków defender Michael Ameyaw handled a cross from Dodo inside the penalty area. VAR confirmed the offence was inside the box, allowing Albert Gudmundsson to calmly slot the penalty into the bottom corner, securing a narrow 2-1 first-leg advantage for Fiorentina ahead of the second leg in Poland next week.