After the summer of football in Euro 2012 where the Italians were runners up behind winners Spain and then the summer of turmoil in the match fixing, Serie A returned at the weekend and there were a few surprises that happened. AC Milan was beaten at home by the returning Sampdoria at the San Siro. Juventus won at home against Parma with a controversial goal from Andrea Pirlo.

Saturday 25th August

There were two games on Saturday and the first game of the season was Fiorentina home game Udinese. Fiorentina won the game 2-1 and at to come from a goal down to win the game. Udinese fielded a under strength side due to Champions league commitments took the lead from debutant Maicosuel. Fiorentina hit back with two goals in the last half hour thanks to Stevan Jovetic. The second goal came in stoppage time and sent the Fiorentina president into pandemonium.

The Saturday night game was Juventus home game against Parma which was evidentially the first league game at the Juventus stadium. In a rain sodden turin, Juventus squandered a chance to take the lead from the penalty spot from Arturo Vidal who had his spot kick saved by Antonio Mirante who made amends for giving away the spot kick for a foul on Stephan Lichtsteiner. The Swiss right back Stephan Lichtsteiner gave Juventus the lead and then moments later Andrea Pirlo doubled Juventus lead from a free kick that Antonio Mirante saved on the line and the linesman and the assistant referee behind the goal gave the goal.

Sunday 26th August

There was a 6pm evening kick off in Milan where a weak AC Milan side took on the returning Sampdoria who won promotion from Serie B last season. There was a shock in the San Siro as the away side won it with a goal in the second half from left back Andrea Costa who headed home from a corner.

There was a four goal thriller in the capital as Zdenek Zeman second reign as Roma manager got underway against a solid Catania side. Giovanni Marchese gave the away side then the homeside equalised with a brilliant goal from Pablo Osvaldo bicycle kick that flew past Mario Andjuar. Then Catania hit Roma on the counter and free on the left hand Alejandro Gomez to hit a angle drive past Maarten Stekelenburg. Roma hit back with moments remaining when young attacker Nico Lopez scored his first goal for the club.

The only 0-0 draw of the first round was between Siena and Torino
Lazio won away at Atalanta thanks to a goal from Hernanes after eighteen minutes from a Stefano Mauri cross. The ball went in off Hernanes knees from around two yards out.

Genoa won at home to Cagliari but it didn’t go all their way. Genoa missed an early spot kick after Bosko Jankovic was fouled in the penalty area. Cristobal Jorquera missed the penalty kick firing his effort wide of the upright. Goals in the second half from Alexander Merkel and Ciro Immobile gave Genoa the win.

The flying donkeys got their season underway with a 2-0 home win over Bologna. Goals in the second half from Sergio Pellissier on his 300th Serie A appearance and Rinaldo Cruzado, Diego Perez with three minutes from time was sent off for Bologna for a two footed challenge on Cruzado.

Napoli started life with Ezequiel Lavezzi with a brilliant 3-0 away at Palermo. Napoli took the lead in first half stoppage time thanks to a brilliant angle drive by Marek Hamsik. Then two goals in the last fifteen minutes from Christian Maggio and former Palermo striker Edinson Cavani wrapped up the points for Napoli.

Inter Milan got off to a brilliant start at newly promoted side Pescara. Inter raced into a 2-0 goal lead thanks to goals from Wesley Sneijder and Diego Milito just after eighteen minutes. The third was added with ten minutes remaining thanks to Philippe Coutinho who returned from his loan spell in Spain from Espanyol.