Mandragora goal against former club deepens Fiorentina's crisis in Torino defeat

Rolando Mandragora returned to stun his former club, as his goal and Che Adams gave Torino their first points of the season against a Fiorentina side in total crisis.

It had been a disastrous start to the season for both teams, above all the Viola who lost 4-0 to Roma and 3-0 at home to Frosinone. Fabiano Parisi was a long-term absentee, with Dodo and Arthur Atta not at 100 per cent, but deadline day signing Alieu Njie was thrown straight into the starting XI for his debut against his old teammates.

Toro lost both Serie A matches and crashed out of the Coppa Italia to Monza this week , with Cesare Casadei, Pietro Pellegri and Franco Israel still sidelined. Rolando Mandragora faced his old club just days after the transfer, joining fellow ex-Fiorentina players Pietro Comuzzo and Niccolò Fortini.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 5: Fans of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Torino FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on September 5, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) There was a huge double chance for the hosts within 75 seconds, as first Lucas Perri denied Franco Mastantuono one-on-one with an outstretched boot, then the Njie follow-up was cleared off the line by Fortini.

Mandragora also almost scored on his debut against his old club, a daisy-cutter from outside the area forcing David De Gea into a desperate fingertip save at the far bottom corner.

Fortini’s header was charged down by Viery on a dangerous Alessio Cacciamani cross, but Fiorentina lost Christ Inao Oulai to injury after just 24 minutes.

Torino had more possession in the first half, Mandragora’s effort deflected wide, and were forced to change Saul Coco due to an injury before half-time.

FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Mateo Pellegrino of ACF Fiorentina scores a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Torino FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on September 5, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) Wilfried Gnonto came on for his Serie A and Fiorentina debut after the restart, and the Viola broke the deadlock when Mateo Pellegrino’s sudden scorcher from distance surprised Perri, who let it squirm under his gloves for a bit of a howler.

Perri was right behind a Gnonto curler, and Nathan Patterson made his first appearance in Italian football for Torino after the move from Everton, his cross immediately skimming the head of Nikola Vlasic.

Although he was to blame for the goal, Perri did make a desperate reaction save on the Atta header from close range, but Toro equalised when Mandragora scored one of his trademark rockets from distance with that trusty left foot. He bent back the glove of former teammate De Gea, then waved an apology to the crowd he had left just days ago.

FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 5: Alieu Njie of ACF Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Torino FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on September 5, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) Former Everton striker Beto came off the bench and turned an acrobatic volley over at the back post, but Torino turned it around completely.

Rafik Belghali was in acres of space down the right, Che Adams hooked the cross with an outstretched leg and was quicker to react on the bounce than Joao Mario, flicking in acrobatically from six yards.

FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 5: Che Adams of Torino FC in action with Radu Dragusin and Christ Inao Oulai of Fiorentina during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Torino FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on September 5, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) Fiorentina failed to mount any real fightback and were loudly jeered off the field at the final whistle.

Fiorentina 1-2 Torino Pellegrino 48 (F), Mandragora 74 (T), Adams 82 (T)

05-09-2026 14:00

MatchDay 3

Artemio Franchi Stadium

Fiorentina

Torino

1 - 2

Player statistic

2nd half

Mateo Pellegrino (Assist: Radu Drăgușin)

47'

74'

Rolando Mandragora (Assist: Eray Cömert)

82'

Ché Adams (Assist: Rafik Belghali)

Match statistic

40

Possession %

60

14

Total shots

7

6

Shots on target

4

6

Shots off target

1

2

Blocked shots

2

3

Corners

5

1

Offsides

0

13

Fouls

9

Fiorentina

Torino

Starting lineups

43

David de Gea Goalkeeper

17

João Mário Defender

3

Radu Drăgușin Defender

21

Víctor Valdepeñas Defender

33

Viery Defender

42

Christ Inao Oulaï Midfielder

24'

30

Franco Mastantuono Midfielder

46'

4

Marco Brescianini Midfielder

46'

44

Nicolò Fagioli Midfielder

Alieu Njie Attacker

79'

32

Mateo Pellegrino Attacker

76'

20

Lucas Perri Goalkeeper

5

Eray Cömert Defender

15

Pietro Comuzzo Defender

70'

23

Saúl Coco Defender

40'

66

Gvidas Gineitis Midfielder

71'

28

Kian Fitz-Jim Midfielder

29

Niccolò Fortini Midfielder

56'

10

Nikola Vlasic Midfielder

8

Rolando Mandragora Midfielder

77

Alessio Cacciamani Attacker

56'

19

Ché Adams Attacker

Substitutes

6

Luca Ranieri Defender

19

Luca Lezzerini Goalkeeper

5

Marin Pongracic Defender

2

Dodô Defender

53

Oliver Christensen Goalkeeper

20

Álex Jiménez Defender

27

Cher Ndour Midfielder

24'

Wilfried Gnonto Attacker

46'

14

Arthur Atta Midfielder

46'

Beto Attacker

76'

Pedro Gonçalves Midfielder

79'

3

Cristiano Biraghi Defender

91

Duván Zapata Attacker

17

Sandro Kulenovic Attacker

7

Zakaria Aboukhlal Midfielder

6

Emirhan Ilkhan Midfielder

11

Gaetano Oristanio Midfielder

26

Diego Mascardi Goalkeeper

76

Lapo Siviero Goalkeeper

79

Andrea Luongo Midfielder

63

Manuel Carrascosa Defender

44

Ardian Ismajli Defender

40'

2

Nathan Patterson Defender

56'

45

Rafik Belghali Defender

56'

21

Daniel Bragança Midfielder

70'

18

Giovanni Simeone Attacker

71'