ISSUE 003 | AUGUST 2026 | AREZZO, TUSCANY

WHEN GIANTS FALL

One scouting report. A calculated team selection. And a famous afternoon in Florence. Matteo Roberti’s Arezzo have made quite the first impression.

There are easier ways to begin a new era than travelling to the Stadio Artemio Franchi to face Fiorentina.

For Matteo Roberti and his Arezzo side, the opening round of the Coppa Italia promised a formidable early examination. Fiorentina possessed the superior squad, home advantage and expectations that extended considerably beyond a first-round cup tie.

Ninety minutes later, none of it mattered.

Fiorentina 0–1 Arezzo.

A plan built on imperfections

The seeds of Arezzo’s victory had been planted before the team arrived in Florence.

Worville’s opposition report identified two potential Fiorentina vulnerabilities: difficulties defending from deep positions and a lack of aerial authority across the squad.

Roberti’s response was deliberate.

With Luca Chierico unavailable through illness and Leonardo Manusco, Emiliano Pattarello and Marco Olivieri sidelined by injury, the manager returned to a 4-3-3 designed to reinforce the centre of the pitch.

Experienced defender Gian Marco Ferrari was introduced for his physical presence and aerial ability. Shaka Mawuli Eklu provided additional steel in defensive midfield, while the imposing 6ft 5in Pietro Cianci was entrusted with leading the attack.

There was tactical continuity, too. Right-back Alessandro Renzi continued to drift into central positions when Arezzo established possession.

The intention appeared clear: protect the middle, compete physically and exploit Fiorentina’s defensive vulnerabilities whenever opportunities arose.

Seventeen minutes that changed everything

Fiorentina began as expected.

After just four minutes, Nicolò Fagioli forced Alessandro Nunziante into an excellent save from the edge of the area. Ten minutes later, Pellegrino narrowly failed to convert Wilfried Gnonto’s inviting cross.

Then Arezzo struck.

A seventeenth-minute corner was cleared, but Camilio Tavernelli recovered possession and returned the ball to Arena. His first-time delivery found Pietro Cianci in space, and the striker fired beyond Oliver Christensen.

The visitors led.

Six minutes later, Cianci thought he had doubled the advantage, powering home a header from Samuele Righetti’s deep cross. An offside decision ruled it out.

Fiorentina continued to press. Marco Brescianini went narrowly wide before the interval, while Alessandro Arena almost extended Arezzo’s advantage early in the second half after another poorly cleared corner.

In the 68th minute, Roberti was visibly issuing instructions from the touchline. Arezzo subsequently lowered the tempo, increasingly disrupting the flow of play and looking to set pieces.

Yet there was still ambition in their attacking play. Cianci found space between the centre-backs again in the 72nd minute, turning a Righetti pass narrowly wide.

The final warning arrived in the 90th minute.

Luca Ranieri met João Mário’s corner with a header that crashed against the crossbar.

Arezzo survived.

More than a fortunate afternoon?

Fiorentina finished with 61% possession, 15 shots and 2.01 expected goals. Arezzo managed six shots and 1.10 xG.

The numbers illustrate the pressure the visitors endured, but they don’t tell the entire story.

The players selected to exploit the Serie A side’s weaknesses all contributed.

Cianci scored the winner, registered two shots on target from two attempts and repeatedly found dangerous positions. Ferrari won two of his three aerial duels and made two interceptions, while Eklu contributed two headers and two interceptions.

There was undoubtedly fortune involved. Fiorentina created enough to have changed the outcome, and Ranieri’s late header was a reminder of how narrow the margins had become.

But this was no afternoon of entirely passive resistance.

Roberti’s side had identified weaknesses, selected personnel accordingly and produced enough moments of attacking quality to trouble their more illustrious opponents.

Whether this represents the beginning of a recognisable footballing identity remains to be seen.

For now, it represents something rather more tangible.

Arezzo are through.

The road ahead

Attention now turns to Serie B, where Roberti’s side face a demanding opening sequence: away to U.S. Avellino, home to Palermo and then a trip to Verona.

Three fixtures that should provide a clearer picture of where this Arezzo team stands.

And after those?

The Coppa Italia draw has delivered another twist.

Having conquered Florence, Arezzo’s reward is a meeting with fierce Tuscan rivals Pisa.

The new season has barely begun.

Already, there is no shortage of stories to tell.