MILAN: A late Edin Dzeko stunner got AS Roma off the mark in their Serie A campaign at Torino but Inter Milan made the worst possible start with a 1-0 loss at Sassuolo.
Roma’s win meant the top three from last year’s campaign all won their opening round of matches. Champions Juventus, with new superstar signing Cristiano Ronaldo making his debut, won 3-2 at Chievo on Saturday with runners-up Napoli coming back to win 2-1 at Lazio.
But Inter Milan — fourth last season — suffered an early upset after Domenico Berardi slotted in a 27th-minute penalty to give all three points to their rivals from Modena.
“This has complicated everything,” said Inter coach Luciano Spalletti. “Sassuolo did well on the counter-attack, they were compact without giving anything.
We lost the game because of a penalty and Sassuolo didn’t create many chances.”
Sassuolo dominated the first half, earning a penalty when Joao Mario brought down Federico Di Francesco in the penalty area.
Inter Milan’s top scorer last season Mauro Icardi came close twice, with Croatian Ivan Perisic also sending the ball over the top in the second half.
Earlier Roma’s only goal came one minute from time following spectacular play by new Dutch signing Justin Kluivert, son of former Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert. (AFP)
