19-Year-Old Argentine Talent Scores Hat-Trick, Makes Serie A History

Mastantuono made history as the youngest foreign player to score a Serie A hat-trick (19 years and 28 days). On loan from Real Madrid, he's been a revelation for Fiorentina. The visitors started strong, eager to rectify their early-season blunders. They carved out several chances but failed to convert, allowing the home side to take the lead in the 22nd minute.

Venice's record signing, Nigerian striker Akor Adams, netted his first goal in the competition. Vanoli, however, would have been pleased with his squad's swift response, equalizing within seven minutes. Mastantuono broke free on the right wing, bagging his inaugural goal for Fiorentina. He didn't have to wait long for his second, turning the score around less than two minutes later from an almost identical position, this time finding the far post.

After the break, the hosts seized the initiative, but Fiorentina extended their lead through a counter-attack finished by Mateo Pellegrino. Mastantuono completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute with a touch of fortune, as his shot rebounded off the goalkeeper, then off his head, and into the net. Two minutes later, Hainaut pulled one back for the home side, but it was merely a consolation goal.

This marked Vanoli's second stint at the helm of the "Viola." Last season proved to be one of Fiorentina's most challenging in recent memory. Vanoli initially took over in November 2025 with the daunting task of rescuing the struggling club, which was winless and rooted to the bottom of the table. He successfully improved their fortunes, guiding the team to a 15th-place finish. Fabio Grosso replaced him over the summer, but after a dismal start to the league campaign, the club once again entrusted Vanoli with the reins.

Ahead of Friday's clash, Vanoli made six changes to the starting lineup compared to the previous match. "We need to start fresh. We have a talented squad, but talent alone isn't enough.

First, we need to become a real team and teach these youngsters that in Italian football, you have to run for your teammates, otherwise, they'll struggle," Vanoli told DAZN, as reported by Football Italia.

However, he believes the young squad also possesses a significant advantage. "I'm fortunate to have a young team. They all soak up information like sponges. This team has a promising future, but we must remain grounded. Today, I saw many positives, but also many areas that need work. We need to be patient," Vanoli concluded.