Serie A: Juventus, Napoli cruise in openers

Published on: 19 August 2017

Juventus launched their bid for a seventh successive Serie A title with a routine 3-0 home win over Cagliari on Saturday.

Mario Mandzukic drilled home with a low shot after good approach play from Stephan Lichtsteiner to put Juve in control after just 12 minutes.

But Cagliari rallied and earned a penalty when Alex Sandro upended Duje Cop, but Gianluigi Buffon comfortably saved Diego Farias' spot kick, and after that Juve quickly regained control.

Miralem Pjanic played in Paula Dybala and the Argentina forward did the rest, firing into the top corner to double the hosts' lead.

Sandro then atoned for conceding the penalty by teeing up Gonzalo Higuain for Juve's third, with the Argentina hitman slotting home with ease.

France midfielder Blaise Matuidi joined the fray late on for his Juve debut, fresh from his midweek switch from Paris Saint-Germain.

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Napoli coasted to a 3-1 opening-weekend win at Hellas Verona, hitting their Serie A stride with precious little fuss or trouble on the road.

The hosts were in trouble just after the half-hour, when Samuel Souprayen put through his own net to gift Napoli early control.

Napoli quickly doubled their lead thanks to a rapid counter-attack. Lorenzo insigne played in Arkaduisz Milik and the Poland striker fired home to cap a flowing break.

Faouzi Ghoulam blasted home the third just past the hour to kill the contest.

Verona managed to scramble a consolation however, after Elseid Hysaj upended Alex Ferrari for a penalty.

Hysaj was sent off and Pazzini converted the spot-kick, but in reality all Verona's late goal did was gloss the scoreline.

Source: espn.co.uk

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