Fiorentina Femminile came from behind to edge Sassuolo 2-1 and take three points from their Serie A opener on Saturday.

Things couldn't have started in a worse fashion as Chiara Beccari went down in the box and earned the visitors a penalty after just four minutes. Up stepped Daniela Sabatino, who left Fiorentina last January, to convert past her former team-mate Katja Schroffenegger.

Sebastian De La Fuente's side produced an instant response though, when two minutes later Michela Catena picked her spot through a crowd after a half-cleared corner.

The Viola seized the upper hand and created further chances in the first half but the closest they came to taking the lead was hitting the woodwork twice.

The second half continued in much the same vein until five minutes from time when Norma Cinotti – having only just entered the fray – collected Miriam Longo's low delivery and curled home the winner inside the far post.

It was perfect start to the 2023/24 Serie A campaign for Fiorentina, who will travel to Inter for their second game after the international break.

Fiorentina 2-1 Sassuolo (HT 1-1)
Scorers: Sabatino 5 (pen), Catena 7, Cinotti 84.

ACF FIORENTINA: Schroffenegger, Tortelli (C), Georgieva, Faerge, Erzen (Toniolo 79), Breitner, Severini (Cinotti 79), Catena , Boquete (Parisi 87), Mijatovic (Agard 87), Kajan (Longo 66).
Subs not used: Hammarlund, Lundin, Baldi, Zanoli.
Coach: Sebastian De La Fuente.

SASSUOLO: Durand, Philtjens, Mella (Santoro 68), Gram, Passeri (Ferrara 85), Sabatino, Beccari (Monterubbiano 68), Brignoli (Prugna 57), Sciabica (Ndotou 46), Orsi, Filangeri (C).
Subs not used: Tudisco, Brustia, Cresce, Nagy.
Coach: Gianpiero Piovani.

Booked: Sciabica S, Mella S, Beccari S.