Benevento fell to Fiorentina 4:1 in the Coppa Italia Round of 64 on Thursday evening, a result that sends the Serie A side through while leaving the lower-league hosts with questions to answer. The match took place at the Stadio San Nicola on August 14, 2026, and unfolded as a study in contrasts between two clubs at different levels of Italian football. Fiorentina controlled the tempo from the outset, while Benevento struggled to find their rhythm against a side that knew exactly what they were doing.
Fiorentina struck twice in the opening half, with Albert Gudmundsson finding the net at the 2-minute mark and Moise Bioti Kyan adding a second at 35. The goals came from quick transitions, and Benevento's defence looked unprepared for the pace of the visitors. By then, the visitors had already established a pattern of moving the ball into dangerous areas and punishing any hesitation.
The second half opened with Fiorentina substitution Joao Mario at 46 minutes, and within two minutes Luca Ranieri made it 3:0. Sher Ndour then added a fourth at 50, before Davide Lamesta pulled one back for Benevento at 54. The home side had worked harder to get into the game, but the damage had been done. They needed to find another gear, and it never came.
The statistics tell a story of dominance from the visitors. Fiorentina registered 13 shots with 7 on target, compared to Benevento's 12 shots with only 4 on target. The home side held 61 per cent possession but failed to convert it into meaningful chances, while Fiorentina's 50 per cent shooting accuracy spoke to their clinical approach. Benevento did manage 559 passes to the visitors' 355, but many of those were in safe areas away from the penalty box.
The result ends Fiorentina's cup run for now, but it also raises questions about Benevento's preparation. They had won their last three matches coming into this fixture, but this performance suggested a gap in quality that no amount of possession could bridge. The hosts will need to regroup quickly if they are to maintain their momentum in the league.