Champions Juventus began the new campaign where they left off the old, with a comfortable 3-0 win over Atalanta in Sunday’s Serie A opener.
A brace from Alessandro Del Piero and one from Slavatore Fresi settledthe game for the champions.
Last season’s surprise package Chievo showed their knack of embarrassing more-fancied rivals has not deserted them when they overcame Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
Diego Simeone put the home side in front after just five minutes but the visitors hit back through Lorenzo D’Anna nine minutes later. New signing Oliver Bierhoff put Chievo ahead three minutes after the interval before Bernardo Corradi levelled the scores on 64 minutes. Six minutes later though Ivano Della Morte scored Chievo’s third to seal the points for The Flying Donkeys.
Parma’s new striker Romanian Adrian Mutu’s marked his debbut for the club by opening the scoring on 23 minutes in their match with Udinese. However, Valentino Alberto secured a point for Udinese when he levelled on 53 minutes.
Perugia recorded a 2-0 home win against Reggina through goals from Fabrizio Miccoli and Giovanni Tedesco.
Piacenza also began with a victory, coming from behind to record a 2-1 win away at Brescia. Jonathan Bachini opened the scoring for the home side on 68 minutes only for Johnnier Montano to equalise minutes later. Unsurprisingly, vetteran striker Dario Hubner was on hand to net the winner for the visitors 11 minutes from time.
On Saturday, a second-half brace from Argentine striker Julio Cruz gave Bologna a shock 2-1 home win over Roma. Gabriel Batistuta put Roma ahead on the stroke of half-time from the penalty spot after Cafu had been brought down. Cruz pulled the home side level on 66 minutes, before grabbing a dramatic injury-time winner.
Inter got off to a winning start with a Christian Vieri header on 23 minutes securing the points against Torino, who were forced to play the second half with 10 men after Gianluca Comotto was sent off just before the break.
Milan, with Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo making his Serie A debut as a substitute, overcame newly-promoted Modena – Filippo Inzaghi scoring twice in the 3-0 away win. Inzaghi opened the scoring on 18 minutes and the lead was doubled early in the second half by Croatian defender Dario Simic. Inzaghi added his second and Milan”s third in the final minute of normal time.
Two of the promoted clubs, Empoli and Como, met with the visitors Empoli enjoying a 2-0 win at Como. Luca Saudati put them ahead on 15 minutes the points were secured midway through the second-half when Antonio Di Natale’s was on hand to stroke home from close range.
