Serie A returned for Matchday One of the 2021/22 season with all of its drama on August 21st. During the off-season, there were lots of movements from the clubs, with six clubs changing their managers including AS Roma, Lazio, Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli, among others.
Serie A Returns With New Faces
Defending Champions Inter Milan Get Off to Perfect Start
The defending Scudetto champions Inter Milan started the season with a deserved 4-0 win over Genoa at the San Siro, Sassuolo defeated Verona 3-2, whilst Lazio beat Empoli 3-1, and Atalanta beat Torino 2-1.
On Sunday, Juventus we’re held to a 2-2 draw by Udinese, while Roma best Fiorentina 3-1 to start on a high under Jose Mourinho’s reign. Napoli beat Venezia 2-0 and Bologna beat Salernitana 3-2.
Leaving AC Milan on Monday who best Sampdoria 1-0, and Cagliari holding Spezia to a 2-2 draw to round up Matchday One of Serie A.
Champions Lay Down Marker in Matchday One
Inter Milan delivered a performance of champions as they romped to a 4-0 success over a hapless Genoa side on the return of a packed San Siro, with debutants Edin Dzeko and Hakan Calhanoglu proving to be good fits for the side under new manager Simone Inzaghi. Goals from Milan Skriniar, Calhanoglu, Arturo Vidal and Dzeko sealed the win for the Nerrazurri in spite of their depleted squad after the sales of Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi, and the suspension of Lautaro Martinez.
 Juventus Struggles Not Over
Last season saw Juventus relinquished their crown in the Serie A after a nine-year stranglehold and even the reappointment of Max Allegri could not inspire them to a win on opening day over a determined Udinese side that came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. Cristiano Ronaldo thought he had given his side all three points in second half added time after he scored a header, but the goal was chalked off due to an offside call.
Mourinho Becomes Fastest Coach Ever to Reach 50 Wins
Jose Mourinho led AS Roma to a convincing 3-1 win over Fiorentina in his first game in charge of the Serie A side, making him the fastest manager to reach 50 wins in the league after his previous spell at Inter Milan ten years ago. It took the Portuguese only 77 matches to reach the landmark. He is also the fastest to reach 50 wins in the English Premier League (63 matches) and Spanish La Liga (62 matches). His new striker from Chelsea, Tammy Abraham, notably notched two assists on his debut for the club.
Red Cards Galore
There were seven red cards issued to players on the opening weekend of the season. Miguel Veloso got sent off for Verona, Stefan Strandberg was sent off for Salernitana, Roberto Soriano and Jerdy Schouten were sent off for Bologna, Victor Osimhen was sent off for Napoli. Bartlomej Dragowski got sent off for Fiorentina, and Nicolo Zaniolo was sent off for AS Roma.
New Boys All Lose
The newly-promoted trio of Empoli, Venezia, and Salernitana were all involved in defeats against the more established sides, with Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio defeating Empoli 3-1, Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli defeating Venezia 2-0 and Salernitana losing to Sinisa Mihajlovic’s Bologna 3-2.