Juventus And Chievo Storm Clear In Italy
MILAN, Sept 9 (AFP)
Juventus showed why they are hot favorites for the Italian first division title Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta in Bergamo to keep the Turin giants 100 percent at the top of Serie 'A'.
But the early challenge to Juve is coming from the unlikeliest quarter with tiny Serie 'A' newcomers Chievo, posting a 2-0 home win over Bologna in Verona to stay joint-top.
That combination of results sets up a David and Goliath battle in Turin next week where the fattest cats in Italian football and the cash-strapped Serie 'A' newboys will duel for the right to top the table outright.
Goals from Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet were sufficent for Juve at Atalanta with Del Piero scoring early on after a fine move he started himself.
Frenchman Trezeguet killed the match after Atalanta had spurned several opportunities with Damiano Zenoni squandering a gilt-edged chance.
Juve coach Marcello Lippi said his side would not understimate Chievo, saying: "Chievo's success is the fruit of very serious work by very serious people. But we have started well and we have to keep our minds on our own ability."
In Verona, Chievo picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Lippi in style when they dispatched Bologna 2-0 at the Stadio Bentegodi.
Striker Bernardo Corradi gave them a 14th-minute lead and Federico Cossato secured the points late on with a stunning finish.
It ensured a party atmosphere at the Bentegodi with fans of the tiny outfit that is playing in the top flight for the first time now looking forward to a mouth-watering trip to Turin.
Less than 10,000 turned out for Chievo's home debut in the top flight but bearing in mind the Verona district of Chievo has only 2,900 inhabitants that figure is no disgrace.
Chievo coach Luigi del Neri said: "These are memorable times for us. We travel to Turin with high hopes but of course we can not forget that Juventus are Juventus."
A.C. Milan kickstarted their season with a convincing 5-2 win over Fiorentina at the San Siro in the evening match.
First-half goals from Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko, Dane Martin Laursen and Filippo Inzaghi against a trademark Enrico Chiesa freekick for Fiorentina gave them a solid interval lead of 3-1.
Shevchenko and Brazilian Serginho added to that tally in the second half and despite another fine Chiesa goal the cash-strapped visitors from Tuscany went down and even if they avoid bankruptcy, relegation is already looking a distinct possibility.
Inter Milan were denied a share of top spot when Parma hit back to force a 2-2 draw.
Marco Materazzi headed visitors Inter in front just days after he escaped unscathed in a car crash, the first goal of the season for the Italian international who last season scored a Serie A record 12 goals for a defender when he was with Perugia.
Parma hit back when Yugoslav forward Savo Milosevic scored into an open net but Inter's reply was immediate with Nicola Ventola restoring their lead.
But Emiliano Bonazzoli's late leveller ensured honours were shared.
Brescia's Albanian forward Igli Tare took the lead in the goalscoring charts, his brace inspiring the northerners to a 3-1 victory over Torino at the Stadio Delle Alpi.
His opener was cancelled out by Cristiano Lucarelli but in the second period Tare struck again with a fine shot for his fourth in two games before Roberto Baggio sealed the points with a penalty.
Brazilian Andre Pinga missed a penalty for Torino.
Brescia coach Carlo Mazzone, at 64 the oldest coach in Serie 'A', said: "The work we put in today was unbelieveable. I was really very pleased and we are reaping the reward for the work we have been doing in training."
Southerners Lecce fought back for a 2-1 victory at Piacenza. Veteran defender Carmine Gautieri gave Piacenza the lead but Uruguayan Guillermo Giacomazzi struck twice after the break to bag the points.
Verona, like city cousins Chievo, also had a day to remember with a second-half goal from Emiliano Salvetti giving them a 1-0 win over Venezia in Venice.
On Saturday, defending champions AS Roma were denied their first win of the season when Udinese striker Roberto Muzzi netted an injury-time equaliser for a 1-1 draw at the Olympic Stadium after Damiano Tommasi had put Roma ahead.
"We gave Udinese a big present and they could not believe their eyes," said Roma coach Fabio Capello.
Earlier, Lazio also failed to register their first victory of the season when they were lucky to escape with a 0-0 draw at Perugia.
Lazio coach Dino Zoff was upbeat, however, saying: "It's important to start well and an away draw is still a positive result."
