Fiorentina kicked off their 2026 pre-season campaign with a narrow but hard-fought 1-0 victory over Serie C side Gubbio at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. The match, played on 23 July 2026, served as an important fitness test for the Viola as they build toward the new Serie A season. A solitary first-half goal proved enough to separate the sides, with Fiorentina dominating possession but facing a disciplined defensive display from the visitors.

Match Overview

The International Club Friendly attracted a modest but vocal crowd eager to see new signings and tactical experiments under the Florence sun. Head coach Vincenzo Italiano fielded a strong starting XI, blending experienced regulars with emerging talents. Gubbio, preparing for their own Lega Pro campaign, set up deep and looked to hit on the counterattack. The first half was largely one-way traffic, with Fiorentina’s midfield controlling the tempo. The decisive moment arrived in the 32nd minute when forward Lucas Beltrán latched onto a through ball from Giacomo Bonaventura and slotted calmly past Gubbio goalkeeper Marco Festa.

Key Moments

• 32’ Goal – Beltrán breaks the deadlock with a composed finish after a clever pass from Bonaventura.
• 58’ Missed chance – Fiorentina substitute Riccardo Sottil rattled the crossbar from 20 yards.
• 72’ Near equaliser – Gubbio’s Francesco Corsinelli forced a sharp save from Oliver Christensen.
• 85’ Red card – Gubbio’s defensive midfielder Manuel Gerace saw a second yellow for a late tackle, reducing the visitors to ten men for the closing stages.

Tactical Story

Fiorentina operated in a fluid 4-2-3-1, with Bonaventura and Rolando Mandragora offering control in midfield while the full-backs pushed high. The Viola created several half-chances but lacked a clinical edge apart from the goal. Gubbio’s compact 4-4-2 frustrated Fiorentina’s attempts to play through the middle, forcing wide crosses that were well dealt with by centre-backs Filippo Calabrese and Devis Ruggeri. Italiano made nine substitutions after the hour mark, disrupting momentum but allowing fringe players valuable minutes. The red card essentially killed any hope of a Gubbio fightback, and Fiorentina comfortably saw out the win.

Standout Performers

Lucas Beltrán took his goal well and showed encouraging link-up play, while Bonaventura’s vision was a constant threat. On the defensive side, captain Igor provided solid leadership. For Gubbio, goalkeeper Festa kept the scoreline respectable with several good stops, and young winger Gabriele Borghese offered flashes of pace on the break.

Season Preparation Context

This friendly was Fiorentina’s first in a series of pre-season tests, with fixtures against higher-profile opponents to follow. The result, though not spectacular, gives Italiano a positive platform. Gubbio, meanwhile, will take heart from their defensive organisation and look to sharpen their final-third play before competitive action resumes.