Italy round-up: Flying start for Juve

Defending Serie A champions Juventus FC began the Italian season in perfect fashion on Sunday by overwhelming Empoli FC 5-1. Internazionale FC, S.S. Lazio and AS Roma also kicked off with victories as did European champions AC Milan on Monday.

Too strong
Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet scored two each and Marco Di Vaio added a further goal in Turin as Juve were far too strong for their Tuscan opponents, who narrowly escaped relegation last season.

Del Piero opener
All three of coach Marcello Lippi’s new signings - defender Nicola Legrottaglie, midfield player Stephen Appiah and striker Fabrizio Miccoli - started for the home team, who went ahead after 16 minutes when Del Piero converted a cross from Gianluca Zambrotta.

Curling free-kick
Del Piero doubled the lead shortly into the second half with a curling free-kick and ten minutes later Trezeguet collected the first of his two goals, turning a Pavel Nedved corner into the net. He was again on target in the 74th minute before Del Piero's replacement, Marco Di Vaio, rounded off proceedings from the penalty spot in the 85th minute. Empoli striker Antonio Di Natale snatched a consolation goal two minutes from time.

Missed chances
Inter were 2-0 winners against Modena FC but not before spurning a succession of chances. Obafemi Martins, Andy van der Meyde and Christian Vieri all missed opportunities before Vieri finally broke the deadlock in the 85th minute, controlling a cross by defender Thomas Helveg before striking from close range. Defender Marco Materazzi sealed victory with a dipping free-kick four minutes later.

Lazio too good
Lazio outclassed newly promoted US Lecce 4-1. Former AC Milan man Demetrio Albertini put the Rome side ahead after 20 minutes and Bernardo Corradi soon doubled the lead, poking in the rebound after Dejan Stankovic's shot was parried by keeper Marco Amelia. Stefano Fiore rifled in the home side's third goal, effectively settling the match before half-time.

Roma tested
Roma had a tougher time against Udinese Calcio, but edged a 2-1 win. Home defender Per Kroldrup cancelled out Marco Delvecchio's early goal to make it 1-1 at the break but the balance of the match shifted four minutes into the second half. Defender Valerio Bertotto was dismissed for fouling Roma striker Antonio Cassano. And it was Cassano who created the winner in the 69th minute, overcoming defender Nestor Sensini before producing a pinpoint pass for Vincenzo Montella to back-heel in.

Siena comeback
Elsewhere, AC Siena - playing their first ever Serie A match - twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at AC Perugia. Brescia Calcio earned a 1-1 draw against AC Chievo Verona, whose goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi fumbled a long-range effort from Salvatore Lanna to let in the opener. Antonio Filippini's 58th-minute goal levelled matters.

Adriano levellers
Bologna FC drew 2-2 with Parma AC despite twice taking the lead through Andrés Guglielminpietro and later Tomas Locatelli. But Parma's Brazilian forward Adriano equalised twice - first with a powerful left-footed drive, then with a header three minutes from time.

Maldini off
To complete the first round of matches, Andriy Shevchenko carried on where he left off in the UEFA Super Cup to give Milan a 2-0 victory at newcomers Ancona Calcio. Shevchenko, who scored the only goal against FC Porto in last Friday's final in Monaco, struck in each half. The one low point for Milan, the UEFA Champions League holders, was Paolo Maldini’s sending off in the second half.

Debut success
Shevchenko opened the scoring from a free-kick on 20 minutes before Maldini's dismissal along with a red card for Fabio Bilica a quarter of an hour after half-time. The loss of Maldini did not damage Milan's hold on the match and they extended their lead when playmaker Kaká, making a promising debut, released another summer recruit Cafu on the right and the defender slid the ball across the penalty area for Shevchenko to score.