Last season’s runners-up Napoli impressed in Rafa Benitez’s debut on Sunday, comfortably beating Bologna 3-0 in its Serie A opener and immediately stating their intent to challenge two-time defending champions Juventus.
After former Real Madrid forward Jose Maria Callejon put Napoli ahead in the 32nd, Marek Hamsik added goals in the 45th and 63rd as fans wondered if this might be the year that their squad break the northern grip on the Italian league title.
Northern squads Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan have won the last 11 Serie A titles, while Napoli haven’t finished top since Diego Maradona led the southern club to their only two championships in 1987 and 1990.
Perhaps in anticipation of celebrations, Napoli even had American-style cheerleaders inside the San Paolo stadium.
It was also a positive debut for former Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri with Inter, who got late goals from Yuto Nagatomo and Rodrigo Palacio for a 2-0 win over Genoa.
And Lazio bounced back from their 0-4 loss to Juventus in the Super Cup by beating visiting Udinese 2-1 with first-half goals from Hernanes and Antonio Candreva.
Lazio had to play with one end of the Stadio Olimpico closed as punishment for fan-racism in the Super Cup. As a response, the Roman club’s players wore shirts with a message that read “We love football, we fight racism.”
Lazio’s rival Roma had a good start, too, with Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Florenzi scoring two minutes apart midway through the second half for a 2-0 win at promoted Livorno.
There was a curious moment in the first half, as new Roma coach Rudi Garcia was seen talking on his cell phone as he sat on the bench. He said afterward that he was discussing tactics with an assistant in the tribune, although it could earn him a fine. Elsewhere, Cagliari beat Atalanta 2-1.