Coppa Italia: Fiorentina hit 4 on Mastantuono debut, Varela impressive for Monza

Fiorentina crushed Benevento 4-1 and Franco Mastantuono made his debut in the Coppa Italia, while Gustavo Varela scored twice as Monza beat Avellino 3-0.

New Fiorentina put on a show

FLORENCE, ITALY – AUGUST 14: Albert Gudmundsson of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during of the Coppa Italia match between of ACF Fiorentina and Benevento Calcio at Artemio Franchi on August 14, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

It took barely 65 seconds for Fiorentina to open the scoring, as the high press paid off and Arthur Atta floated a beautiful ball into the box for Albert Gudmundsson’s header.

Joao Mario’s scorcher was fingertipped onto the crossbar, but the Benevento goalkeeper was beaten by a precise Moise Kean volley wrapping his foot around the defender to flick the Joao Mario cross into the far bottom corner.

FLORENCE, ITALY – AUGUST 14: Christ Inao Oulai of ACF Fiorentina in action during warm-up prior during of the Coppa Italia match between of ACF Fiorentina and Benevento Calcio at Artemio Franchi on August 14, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

David De Gea needed a stunning fingertip save to deny the Leonardo Sernicola curler, but the third came when Radu Dragusin glanced a corner to the back post for Luca Ranieri to nod in from point-blank range.

Cher Ndour controlled a Marco Brescianini pull-back just inside the box, sold a dummy and drilled in with his left foot for 4-0.

Benevento caught De Gea napping with a Davide Lamesta daisy-cutter into the far bottom corner to get on the scoresheet.

Real Madrid starlet Mastantuono made his Viola debut on his 19th birthday, coming off the bench for the last half-hour along with Christ Inao Oulai.

Mastantuono nearly scored with a left-foot curler that was just wide of the far top corner from the edge of the box.

Fiorentina will face either Pisa or Empoli in an all-Tuscan battle for the next round.

FLORENCE, ITALY – AUGUST 14: Franco Mastantuono of ACF Fiorentina in action during warm-up prior during of the Coppa Italia match between of ACF Fiorentina and Benevento Calcio at Artemio Franchi on August 14, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Monza also made short work of Avellino in their Coppa Italia match this evening, emerging with a 3-0 victory, and will face Torino or Carrarese next.

New signing Gustavo Varela took centre stage, ready to pounce on the rebound from a parried Patrick Cutrone effort, then adding another after good work from the former Milan striker, who generously rolled across for his teammate.

Cutrone really was in fine form and provided a third assist of the night for Omari Forson’s angled drive.

When Cutrone did finally get the ball in the net himself, it was flagged offside.