Franco Mastantuono scored a stunning hat-trick as Fiorentina came from behind to defeat Venezia 4–2 at the Penzo Stadium and claim their first Serie A victory of the 2026/27 season.
Fiorentina finally have their first victory of the 2026/27 Serie A season, and they have Franco Mastantuono to thank.
In an exhilarating contest at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, La Viola recovered from an early deficit to beat Venezia 4–2, with the Argentine teenager producing a sensational hat-trick.
The victory was particularly significant because Fiorentina arrived in Venice without a point after three consecutive defeats. The match also marked the return of Paolo Vanoli to the Fiorentina bench after the club dismissed Fabio Grosso following the difficult opening to the campaign.
For Venezia, the defeat was their fourth straight loss, leaving them still searching for their first points of the season.
Match Overview
| Detail | Venezia | Fiorentina |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 2 | 4 |
| Competition | Serie A 2026/27 | Serie A 2026/27 |
| Matchday | 4 | 4 |
| Venue | Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo | Away |
| Venezia scorers | Akor Adams 22', Antoine Hainaut 86' | — |
| Fiorentina scorers | — | Mastantuono 29', 30', 84'; Pellegrino 66' |
The match was a perfect example of Fiorentina's ability to respond to adversity. Venezia struck first, but Mastantuono changed the game almost immediately, scoring twice in the space of roughly a minute to turn the contest around before half-time.
Venezia Strike First
The opening period at the Penzo was played at a lively pace, with both teams creating opportunities.
Fiorentina showed attacking ambition through Mastantuono and Alex Jiménez, while Venezia looked dangerous whenever John Yeboah found space.
The breakthrough, however, went to the hosts in the 22nd minute.
Gianluca Busio carried the ball through the middle before releasing Akor Adams on the right. The Venezia forward produced a precise first-time finish across goal and beyond David De Gea.
Venezia 1–0 Fiorentina.
It was an important moment for Adams, who registered his first goal in Italian top-flight football.
For Fiorentina, the early setback could easily have increased the pressure surrounding the team after three consecutive defeats.
Instead, it triggered one of the most spectacular individual performances of the weekend.
Mastantuono Turns the Match Around
Just seven minutes after Venezia took the lead, Franco Mastantuono produced the first piece of his magic.
In the 29th minute, Alex Jiménez found the Argentine, who moved inside from the right before unleashing a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area.
The strike caught goalkeeper Filip Stanković off guard and found the net.
Venezia 1–1 Fiorentina.
And Mastantuono was not finished.
Only around a minute later, Fiorentina capitalised on a defensive error. Haps slipped under pressure, leaving space for the visitors to attack. Mastantuono received the ball and calmly fired another low left-footed effort toward goal.
The shot struck the inside of the post before crossing the line.
Venezia 1–2 Fiorentina.
Two goals in an extraordinary spell had completely changed the match.
The turnaround also demonstrated the confidence and technical quality of the young Argentine, who had endured a difficult beginning to his Fiorentina career.
Fiorentina Control the Second Half
Venezia attempted to respond after the interval, but Fiorentina looked increasingly comfortable.
The visitors created further opportunities through Beto and Nicolò Fagioli, while Venezia struggled to reproduce the attacking momentum that had produced Adams' opener.
Fiorentina's midfield began to find more space, and the visitors were increasingly dangerous whenever they recovered possession and attacked quickly.
The decisive third goal arrived in the 66th minute.
Fagioli produced an excellent forward pass to Mateo Pellegrino, who raced into space and finished with his left foot.
Venezia 1–3 Fiorentina.
The goal gave Fiorentina greater control and forced Venezia to commit more players forward.
Mastantuono Completes His Hat-Trick
The evening belonged to Mastantuono.
With the match approaching its final stages, the Argentine completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute.
The goal was somewhat fortunate. Ndour delivered the ball into the penalty area, and Mastantuono attempted to finish at close range. Stanković initially prevented the shot, but the ball rebounded off Mastantuono and ended up in the net.
It did not matter how it went in.
The scoreboard now read:
Venezia 1–4 Fiorentina.
Mastantuono had scored three times, and Fiorentina were on their way to their first victory of the season.
The performance also put the youngster into Fiorentina's history books. He became the youngest player to score a hat-trick for the club in Serie A.
Venezia Pull One Back
The hosts refused to give up.
Two minutes after Mastantuono completed his hat-trick, Venezia reduced the deficit.
In the 86th minute, a cross from the left found Antoine Hainaut, who was left with too much space inside the area. He reacted quickly and struck a right-footed volley beyond De Gea.
Venezia 2–4 Fiorentina.
The goal briefly gave the home side hope of producing an extraordinary late comeback, but Fiorentina managed the final minutes effectively and protected their advantage until the final whistle.
Goal Timeline
22' – Venezia 1–0 Fiorentina: Akor Adams
Busio's pass released Adams, who finished into the far corner.
29' – Venezia 1–1 Fiorentina: Franco Mastantuono
Mastantuono cut inside and produced a superb left-footed strike from outside the area.
30' – Venezia 1–2 Fiorentina: Franco Mastantuono
A defensive mistake opened the door for Mastantuono, who finished low via the inside of the post.
66' – Venezia 1–3 Fiorentina: Mateo Pellegrino
Fagioli released Pellegrino on the counter, and the Argentine finished clinically.
84' – Venezia 1–4 Fiorentina: Franco Mastantuono
A rebound in the penalty area allowed Mastantuono to complete his hat-trick.
86' – Venezia 2–4 Fiorentina: Antoine Hainaut
Hainaut's volley gave Venezia a late consolation.
Tactical Analysis
Vanoli's Immediate Impact
Paolo Vanoli could hardly have asked for a better return to the Fiorentina bench.
The coach had only recently returned after Fabio Grosso was dismissed following three defeats in the opening three rounds. Grosso's Fiorentina had scored just once and conceded nine goals during that difficult run.
Against Venezia, Fiorentina showed considerably more attacking freedom.
The team attacked quickly after recovering possession and frequently attempted to exploit space behind Venezia's defensive line.
Fagioli's passing was particularly valuable in the second half, while Mastantuono was given the freedom to move inside from wide positions.
Mastantuono's Influence
The biggest tactical difference-maker was Mastantuono's positioning.
Rather than remaining fixed to one side of the pitch, the Argentine frequently moved into central areas where he could receive the ball facing goal.
That allowed him to use his strongest weapon: his left foot.
Both of his first-half goals demonstrated how dangerous he can become when given space around the edge of the penalty area.
His hat-trick was therefore not simply a case of finishing opportunities. Mastantuono consistently positioned himself in areas from which he could influence the game.
Standout Performer: Franco Mastantuono
There was little doubt about the player of the match.
Franco Mastantuono scored three goals, all from open play, and completely transformed the contest after Venezia took the lead.
His first goal showed technical quality from distance.
His second demonstrated anticipation and composure after a defensive mistake.
His third showed determination to remain involved in the penalty-area action.
Most importantly, the performance came at a crucial moment for Fiorentina.
The club had lost its opening three Serie A matches and was already facing significant pressure. Mastantuono responded by delivering the performance that his supporters had been waiting for.
The 19-year-old's hat-trick was also his first Serie A treble and made him the youngest Fiorentina player ever to accomplish the feat.
What the Result Means for Fiorentina
The victory finally moves Fiorentina off zero points.
After defeats against Roma, Frosinone and Torino, the 4–2 win in Venice provides a major psychological boost.
It was also the ideal beginning for Vanoli's return.
The manager previously guided Fiorentina to safety before leaving the club during the summer, and his return immediately produced a much-needed victory.
The result does not solve every problem, particularly defensively. Fiorentina still conceded twice and allowed Venezia to create dangerous moments.
But the attacking performance provides plenty of encouragement.
With Mastantuono finding his confidence and Pellegrino also contributing, Fiorentina suddenly have a much more positive platform from which to rebuild their season.
Venezia's Difficult Start Continues
For Venezia, the situation is becoming increasingly serious.
The defeat leaves the club without a point after four Serie A matches.
The team showed attacking quality through Adams and Hainaut, but defensive mistakes proved costly.
After taking the lead, Venezia conceded twice in an extremely short period and struggled to regain control of the match.
The late goal from Hainaut demonstrated their fighting spirit, but the deficit was ultimately too large to overcome.
Final Thoughts
Venezia 2–4 Fiorentina was exactly the kind of match that can change the direction of a season.
Venezia started brightly and took a deserved lead through Akor Adams, but the response from Fiorentina was emphatic.
Within approximately two minutes, Franco Mastantuono had scored twice and completely turned the game around.
Mateo Pellegrino added a third in the second half before Mastantuono completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute.
Hainaut's late goal provided Venezia with a consolation, but the night belonged to Fiorentina.
For La Viola, the most important takeaway is not simply the three points. It is the confidence generated by the performance and the emergence of Mastantuono as a player capable of deciding Serie A matches.
After three consecutive defeats, Fiorentina finally have their first win of the 2026/27 campaign.
And at the Penzo Stadium, the next chapter of the Mastantuono story began in spectacular fashion.