The reigning Italian champions needed just six minutes to break the deadlock when Hakan Calhanoglu blasted in from distance. Monza, back in the top flight after a season in Serie B, levelled through Gustavo Varela in the 29th minute. Inter restored their advantage shortly after the restart, with Piotr Zielinski finding the net in the 48th minute.
Inter Milan kicked off the defence of their Serie A title in emphatic fashion on Saturday, cruising to a 4-1 home victory over promoted Monza.
Last season’s surprise package Como needed a second-half equaliser from Greece forward Tasos Douvikas to earn a 1-1 draw at Udinese.
Yann Bisseck completed the scoring in the 63rd minute as Inter underlined their status as clear favourites to retain the Scudetto. Napoli had to wait until the 82nd minute to break the deadlock through Kevin De Bruyne, who swung the game his team’s way after coming on as a second-half substitute. The Belgium international, who missed a large chunk of his first season in Naples with a hamstring injury, then set up Antonio Vergara to add a second to wrap up the points.
“We regained our calm and clarity after the break. Allegri, a six-time Serie A winner as a coach, is looking to make a statement after being dismissed by AC Milan following just one season in charge. Napoli, who finished runners-up to Inter last season, struck two late goals to brush aside Genoa 2-0 and get new coach Massimiliano Allegri off to a winning start.
“We were a bit rusty during the first half, a bit too frantic as well,” Inter coach Cristian Chivu told DAZN.
