Round One: Just great to be back

An impressive and entertaining start to the Serie A season saw some incredibly close, tense and pulsating encounters. The battle lines were well and truly drawn, with Milan proving the doubters wrong, so far, and Genoa continuing their splendid form from last season. Some new signings impressed as well.

Bologna 1-1 Fiorentina
Bologna deserved a point in the fixture that kicked off the 2009/2010 Serie A season. Bologna were without Di Vaio, but took the lead in this entertaining fixture through former Fiorentina man Pablo Osvaldo after some woeful marking by the suspect Fiorentina defence allowed him to head home unmarked. Bologna looked good, but so did the Viola and they poured forward in search of an equalizer, with Donadel going close just before half time. Mutu was introduced at half time, and to great effect. From a Viola corner, Mutu had time and space to send a thunderous, and unstoppable, effort into the top right corner. It was a stunning finish. yet, it ended 1-1, although both sides will be happy not to loose on opening day.

Siena 1 -2 AC Milan
Milan showed that their is life after Kaka in this entertaining clash at the Artemio Franchi in Siena. It was all Siena in the early going, with them pouring forward and putting the back line under pressure. However, Milan survived this onslaught and began to take control. Boy wonder Pato had a thunderous effort skim the woodwork, and shortly after had a goal disallowed after he nodded home a Ronaldinho freekick in an offside position. Yet this was a prelude for what was to come. Ronaldinho started to run the game, and supplied Pato with a stunning through ball that the young Brazilian slotted home. However, Siena levelled the tie with Ghezzal latching onto a ball at the back post leaving Storari stranded. After the break Milan again took the lead, with Ronaldinhho again splitting the defence with a pass to Flamini who fed Pato for his second goal at the back post. It could have been 3-1 later on with Ronaldinho's stunning overhead kick just deflected over. Pato almost got his hatrick late on, again with a Ronaldinho through ball, but just hit the side netting. A good game in which both sides looked pretty decent.

Inter Milan 1-1 Bari
Inter stuttered to a home draw against the Serie B champions who almost stole a win right at the death. Diego Milito, Lucio, Thiago Motta and Sammy Eto'o had their debuts at the San Siro. Miltio had the best chance in the early going after being fed through by Muntari, but blasted the ball over the bar. Inter though did not see as much of the ball as they would have wanted, as Bari failed to read the script and worked their way into the game. However, Mourinho introduced Quaresma in the second half to inject some creativity and it lead to a penalty kick as Milito was brought down in the area. Eto'o stepped up and sent the keeper right, and the ball in the bottom left. Yet Inter failed to add to their lead, and this allowed Bari back into the game, with even Eto'o missing an open goal. Bari drew level though through a well taken Kutuzov goal. In late injury time Bari should have taken all three points as substitute Rivas worked his way past the entire Inter defence yet shot well over.

Juventus 1 - 0 Chievo Verona
Juve got their Scudetto chasing campaign off to a good start by defeating Chievo. Diego supplied a wonderful ball to feed Iaqunita early on who headed home in splendid fashion to give Juve a 1-0 advantage. Iaquinta almost made it two later on, but was denied brilliantly by Chievo keeper Sorrentino kept out with his leg. Chievo were not dominated though, and felt they had a penalty shout when Grygera tugged Pellissier. However, Amauri really should have made it 2-0 after that. Diego again was at the heart of the play and played Amauri a ball that the Brazilian smashed against the post. 1-0 it finished.

Lazio 1 - 0 Atalanta
Lazio continued their great form by defeating a talented Atalanta outfit by 1-0. Indeed, Atalanta look like a very strong outfit this season with Acquafresca and Doni up front and Tibero Guarante and Edgar Baretto pulling the strings in midfield. Yet, after only a couple of minutes Lazio should have been infront thanks to a great ball by Mauro Zarate, but Rocchi shot wide. Yet, Rocchi didnt waste his second chance, and after a splendid ball by Foggia that split the defence Rocchi converted well. Zarate though was on fire, and nearly scored a wonder goal later on after waltzing through their entire backline only to be tackled just before he pulled the trigger. Atalanta had their chances though, and Acquafresca should have drawn them level but shot wide instead. After the break AAcquafrescaagain should have made it 1-1, but somehow missed the target completely from 10 yards out. Lazio got back into their grove though, and only more power on a volley by Rocchi would have seen the score made 2-0. Cruz came on for Rocchi, and nearly scored himself but just didn't get enough purchase on the shot. Lazio held on though, and picked up the three points.

Palermo 2-1 Napoli
Two of the teams that invested a lot of money this summer clashed on opening day, and it was the Azzurri of Naples that left disappointed. Palermo took the lead through sensation Edison Cavani who tapped in to make it 1-0, although up until this point Napoli were on top after rattling the woodwork on a couple of occasions. Napoli drew level in the second half through Marek Hamsik who belted one home from 25 yards, but Palermo sealed the win through a Miccoli spot kick and began their season on the right note. Napoli will look to atone next week at the fearsome San Paolo against Livorno.

Genoa 3-2 AS Roma
In perhaps the biggest clash of the round last season's 5th and 6th place teams faced off, and what a game it was. Genoa had many new signings on display and Roma had much quality to and new signing in Argentine International Nicolas Burdisso on show as well. Both sides had chances in the first half, but in the second the game came alive. Palacio and Criscito were introduced and the latter gave the Grifoni the lead with a volley. The lead did not last long as Rodrigo Taddei tapped in after Menez's header was parried. Roma went one better and took the lead through Talisman Totti who redirected a shot from distance. Spaniard Zapater made it a debut to remember though, as he fired home a stunning freekick to make it 2-2. Incredibly Genoa snatched the win. Sculli's volley was blocked by Artur but not well enough as Biava slotted home for Genoa to take a huge scalp.

Catania 1-2 Sampdoria
Sampdoria got their season of to a winning start in one of the toughest places to win in Italy. Catania is a difficult place to go, but Giampaolo Pazzini started from where he left of last season by opening the scoring after eight minutes by tapping in from a Cassano assist. Catania drew level in the second half though through the excellent Morimoto. Yet, this was not enough for Catania as Gasteldello secured the win deep in stoppages by heading home the winner.

Udinese 2-2 Parma
Parma impressed in Udine on their return to Serie A and will be dissapointed not to have taken all three points. Paloschi opened the scoring just before the break, but after Udinese equilised through Totto Di Natale who converted from the spot. Parma again got themselves in front through a Lucarelli header, but Udinese hero Di Natale restored parity at the death.

Livorno 0-0 Cagliari
Livorno and Cagliari both picked up a point to get their seasons of to a solid start. Both sides had their chances but both will not be disappointed to have avoided defeat in the first week.

So, week one is over and the battle lines have been drawn. Inter struggled, and now perhaps they are the underdogs for next weeks Milan derby. Roma were defeated and will have to pick themselves up next week against.....Juventus! A couple of cracking fixtures there, and with Palermo dropping into Fiorentina, Lazio into Verona and Udinese clashing with Sampdoria week two looks set to be an absolute cracker.