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

Inter Milan launched their Serie A title defence with a 4-1 home victory over Monza on Saturday. The defending champions overcame an early setback and asserted their dominance in the second half to secure a comfortable win. Monza equalized just before halftime, with Gustavo Varela scoring his Serie A debut goal. Inter's manager, Cristian Chivu, acknowledged the challenge posed by Monza, but praised his team's resurgence and control in the second half.

Piotr Zielinski, Semuel Pizzignacco, and Yann Bisseck all found the back of the net for Inter, while English defender John Stones made his debut for the club.

Meanwhile, Napoli kicked off their season with a 2-0 win at Genoa. The newcomers, now managed by Massimiliano Allegri, led the standings for a significant portion of last season before finishing 11 points behind Inter. Napoli faced a resilient Genoa side, who struggled to create scoring opportunities. Scott McTominay and Scott McTominay failed to trouble Genoa's goalkeeper, Justin Bijlow, in the first half.

However, Allegri's strategic substitutions, including Kevin De Bruyne and Antonio Vergara, paid off handsomely. De Bruyne and Vergara combined to score Napoli's goal in the second half, and Vergara found the back of the net again for a decisive second goal, securing Napoli's victory.