Venezia, Italy — Fiorentina earned a 2-4 victory over Venezia at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, powered by Franco Mastantuono’s hat trick and his two-goal burst across the 29th and 30th minutes after the visitors had fallen behind. The result provided a needed lift for Fiorentina, which entered the match sitting 16th in Serie A with 32 points, a 7W-11D-13L record and a -8 goal difference. The teams split possession evenly at 50%-50%, but Fiorentina converted its clearest opportunities and ended a run of three consecutive defeats.
Venezia struck first in the 22nd minute with a swift counterattack. Gianluca Busio released Akor Adams on the fast break, and Adams drove a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the top-left corner. The crisp finish energized the home crowd, but Fiorentina required only seven minutes to respond. Álex Jiménez supplied Mastantuono, who unleashed a left-footed effort from outside the box and sent it into the bottom-right corner in the 29th minute.
Mastantuono needed just one more minute to transform the match. Beto provided the assist at 30', and the midfielder again struck left-footed from outside the area, this time picking out the bottom-left corner to put Fiorentina ahead 2-1. The two finishes highlighted his range, precision and willingness to shoot early, while their timing abruptly changed the mood inside the stadium. Venezia then suffered another setback when Busio departed injured at 44', with Thórir Helgason replacing the creator of its opening goal shortly before halftime.
Fiorentina strengthened its position after the interval through two players directly involved in a 60th-minute substitution. Mateo Pellegrino replaced Beto and needed only six minutes to make an impact. Nicolò Fagioli carried the visitors forward on a fast break before assisting Pellegrino, who guided a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom-right corner at 66'. The composed finish pushed Fiorentina’s advantage to 3-1 and forced Venezia to take greater risks as it searched for a way back.
Venezia’s goalkeeper remained heavily involved despite the widening scoreline. Filip Stankovic delivered an outstanding performance with 6 saves, twice denying Alieu Njie and also stopping Mastantuono after Cher Ndour’s through ball. His interventions kept Venezia within reach for much of the second half and prevented Fiorentina from settling the contest earlier. At the other end, David de Gea made 1 save, thwarting Helgason’s right-footed attempt toward the top center of the goal after Thierry Correia’s assist.
The match grew increasingly physical as Venezia pushed forward and Fiorentina tried to protect its advantage. Joël Schingtienne received a yellow card at 38', while Njie was booked at 72' and Simon Sohm followed at 73'. Those cautions reflected a contest that remained competitive even after Pellegrino’s goal had given the visitors a two-goal cushion.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Mastantuono controlled the decisive individual battle and completed his hat trick in the 84th minute. Moving into position from very close range, he headed into the bottom-right corner to make it 4-1 and cap a display built on three sharply contrasting finishes. His first two goals came from outside the box, while his third rewarded his movement and anticipation near the goal.
Venezia responded at 86' when Ridgeciano Haps crossed for Antoine Hainaut, who guided a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the bottom-right corner. Adams and Hainaut gave Venezia two well-taken goals, but Mastantuono’s long-range double and close-range header ultimately separated the teams. His scoring at 29', 30' and 84' ensured that Fiorentina repeatedly punished the hosts at crucial stages.
BY THE NUMBERS
The final score of Venezia 2-4 Fiorentina reflected the visitors’ sharper finishing rather than any clear territorial superiority. Possession finished Venezia 50%-50% Fiorentina, underlining how evenly the teams shared the ball. The saves comparison ran Fiorentina 1-6 Venezia, with Stankovic’s 6 stops emphasizing how often Fiorentina threatened beyond its four goals. Franco Mastantuono earned Star of the Match honors with 3 goals, while Fiorentina remained 16th with 32 points, a 7W-11D-13L record and a -8 goal difference.
The turning point arrived across the 29th and 30th minutes. Venezia went from protecting Adams’ lead to trailing after consecutive Mastantuono strikes from outside the box. That sudden reversal forced the hosts to alter their approach and gave Fiorentina greater space on the counterattack. Pellegrino’s contribution off the bench then widened the gap, and even Stankovic’s six-save effort could not overcome Fiorentina’s finishing advantage during a nervy final 10 minutes.
Fiorentina departed with a result that interrupted its losing sequence and strengthened morale during a difficult league campaign. Venezia, meanwhile, must regroup after another defeat despite goals from Adams and Hainaut and sustained resistance from Stankovic. The scoreboard reset after the final whistle, but Fiorentina’s place in the table did not. Both teams will now turn their attention to their upcoming fixtures, with Fiorentina seeking to build on the 2-4 victory in its next match and Venezia aiming to respond in its next league assignment.