Inter begin title defence with win over Monza, Napoli beat Genoa

Aug 22 : Inter Milan kicked off their Serie A title defence with a 4-1 home win over Monza on Saturday, after the promoted side recovered from conceding an early goal to go in level at the break before the champions turned on the style.

Last season's runners-up Napoli, meanwhile, began their season with a 2-0 victory at Genoa thanks to late goals from substitutes Kevin De Bruyne and Antonio Vergara.

Inter looked set for a routine win after taking a sixth-minute lead. Andy Diouf laid the ball back and Hakan Calhanoglu thumped a first-time effort from well outside the area into the roof of the net, but Monza stunned the San Siro with an equaliser just before the half-hour mark.

Gustavo Varela collected a pass from Mathis Mout with his back to goal on the edge of the area, turned Manuel Akanji and fired low into the far bottom corner to score on his Serie A debut.

Varela signed from Benfica in July and the 21-year-old has made an immediate impact, netting twice on his Monza debut in a 3-0 Coppa Italia win over Avellino last week.

"We struggled in the first half, thanks to the opponent," Inter manager Cristian Chivu said.

"We went into confusion and Monza did not allow us to play our game. Going ahead at the start of the second half helped us regain calm and clarity to control the game."

Inter went back in front three minutes after the break when Monza's Semuel Pizzignacco punched away Federico Dimarco's cross and the ball fell to Piotr Zielinski who smacked his shot into the turf and over the stranded keeper.

Inter were in no mood to allow Monza back in a second time and eight minutes later Pio Esposito sent a clever back-heeled flick past Pizzignacco, with Diouf providing another assist.

Yann Bisseck's deflected shot sent Inter further ahead and Akanji hit the bar with a header as the hosts threatened to run riot.

England defender John Stones replaced Akanji to make his Inter debut, with compatriots and fellow recent signings Djed Spence and Curtis Jones watching on at San Siro.

ALLEGRI'S CHANGES PAY OFF

Napoli, now managed by Massimiliano Allegri after Antonio Conte's departure, led the standings for the early part of last season before finishing 11 points behind Inter, and risked playing catch-up from the off this time around.

Genoa were much the better side in the opening half, as Napoli struggled to create chances.

Vitinha fired narrowly wide early on for the hosts and another effort was straight at goalkeeper Alex Meret.

Scott McTominay tried his luck from distance after the break, but it smacked of desperation from Napoli, the shot easily gathered by Genoa keeper Justin Bijlow.

Then came Allegri's triple change midway through the second half, sending on De Bruyne, Vergara and Noa Lang.

De Bruyne played a one-two with Vergara before rifling his shot past Bijlow from just outside the six-yard area to put Napoli ahead eight minutes from time and the pair combined again to settle the match five minutes later.

De Bruyne played a cross into the box which found its way to Vergara and, although his shot was blocked by defender Sebastian Otoa, the ball trickled over the line.