Serie A Roundup, Matchday 1
The opening matches of the 2023/24 Serie A season showcased thrilling contests, surprising results, and remarkable individual displays. Below is a summary of the weekend’s games.
Parma 1-1 Fiorentina
Fiorentina’s search for a victory at the Stadio Ennio Tardini extended to four years as they ended up with a 1-1 draw against Parma. Marin Pongračić received a second yellow card and was sent off seven minutes before the end. As expected, the team with 11 players created an opportunity to clinch the win, but Wylan Cyprien failed to maintain his composure in front of the goal, resulting in both teams finishing Matchday 1 with a single point each.
Genoa 2-2 Inter
The match at Stadio Luigi Ferraris ended in a 2-2 draw, with Genoa’s defense having a fortunate outing during their Serie A season opener against champions Inter Milan. Inter took the lead as the game was nearing its conclusion. However, a dramatic turn occurred in injury time when Yann Bisseck was called for a handball in the box, giving Genoa a chance to equalize. Junior Messias took the penalty, and although his first shot was saved by Sommer, he managed to score on the rebound, igniting celebrations in the stadium. This equalizer prevented Inter from achieving their sixth consecutive winning start to a Serie A season.
Empoli 0-0 Monza
Empoli’s Serie A season began with a goalless draw against Monza at Stadio Carlo Castellani, preventing them from securing a win but allowing them to maintain an unbeaten streak of six home matches against Monza. This draw leaves D’Aversa considering how to address his team’s struggles in scoring, as they had the fewest goals in Serie A last season. On the other hand, Alessandro Nesta managed to avoid defeat in his first match with the Biancorossi, but their winless streak in the league has now reached nine games, despite achieving their first clean sheet since April.
AC Milan 2-2 Torino
AC Milan managed to secure a 2-2 draw against Torino in their Serie A season opener, thanks to goals scored in the 89th and 95th minutes. The Rossoneri, who were trailing by two goals, began their comeback when substitute Álvaro Morata skillfully finished Tijjani Reijnders’ shot in the 89th minute, setting the stage for an exciting finish. Energized by their passionate home crowd, Milan pushed for an equalizer, which they achieved in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Noah Okafor volleyed in Yunus Musah’s cross, preventing Torino from claiming a memorable victory.
Verona 3-0 Napoli
The Antonio Conte tenure at Napoli started poorly, as the team suffered a 3-0 defeat to Verona at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, marking their first loss on the opening day of a Serie A season in nine years. Napoli’s hopes for a comeback were dashed when Daniel Mosquera, just a minute after coming on as a substitute, scored to extend the hosts’ lead. He skillfully curled the ball into the far corner past Alex Meret and later added another goal in stoppage time. This victory allowed Verona to break a three-match losing streak against Napoli at home, while Napoli’s struggles on the road continued, having won only two of their last 13 Serie A away matches.
Bologna 1-1 Udinese
Vincenzo Italiano kicked off his tenure at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara with a 1-1 draw against Udinese. The hosts have now gone seven Serie A home matches without a loss against Udinese. For Bologna to compete effectively on two fronts this season, they will need to be more decisive. Meanwhile, Udinese will likely feel like they came out on top morally, having avoided losing their third consecutive opening Serie A matchday for the first time since the 1961/62 season.
Lazio 3-1 Venezia
Marco Baroni had an excellent debut as the new Lazio manager, leading the team to a strong 3-1 win against newly-promoted Venezia. This victory marks Lazio’s fifth win in their last six Serie A opening matches. Fans in the sky blue section of Rome are optimistic that Lazio can build on this positive start and aim for a finish closer to their second-place standing in the 2022/23 season, rather than last season’s seventh place. On the other hand, Venezia should remain optimistic, as their seven wins in the last ten Serie B matches at the end of the previous campaign suggest they have what it takes to avoid a repeat of their last stint in the top division.
Cagliari 0-0 AS Roma
Cagliari began the new Serie A season with a solid defensive performance, managing to secure a commendable 0-0 draw against AS Roma in front of their home crowd. Although Cagliari aimed to start the season with a victory at home, considering Roma’s historical dominance over them, they could be satisfied with earning a point in the match.
Lecce 0-4 Atalanta
Atalanta kicked off their 2024/25 Serie A season impressively, with Marco Brescianini and Mateo Retegui each scoring twice in a dominant 4-0 win against Lecce at Stadio Via del Mare. This victory marked La Dea’s seventh consecutive win in season openers. After a few promising moments, Lecce appeared to lose their confidence as Atalanta launched relentless attacks. Lecce has now suffered three consecutive defeats against Atalanta without scoring and will face a tough challenge ahead with an upcoming match against Inter Milan.
Juventus 3-0 Como
Juventus had an excellent debut under their new manager Thiago Motta, securing a 3-0 win against newly-promoted Como at the Allianz Stadium. This victory marked their eighth win in their first Serie A home match over the last 11 seasons. Juve’s performance was impressive, capped off by Andrea Cambiaso’s remarkable curling shot into the far corner from the edge of the box during stoppage time, which helped them maintain an unbeaten streak against newly-promoted teams that now stands at seven matches.
