Inter Milan recruits Hakan Calhanoglu and Edin Dzeko have both scored as the Nerazzurri got their Serie A title defence off to a flying start with a 4-0 home victory over Genoa.
Calhanoglu, who joined from city rival AC Milan on a free transfer, set up Milan Skriniar’s early opener and doubled Inter’s tally in the 14th minute.
Arturo Vidal effectively sealed the victory in the 74th before Dzeko opened his league account for Inter in the final minutes.
Inter won their first title since 2010 last season – ending Juventus’ nine-year grip on the title – but shortly after coach Antonio Conte left and the club had to sell two of its top players in Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi.
Simone Inzaghi replaced Conte and steered his new side to victory in his first competitive game in charge.
There were also opening-day wins for fellow title hopefuls Lazio and Atalanta while Sassuolo won on the road.
It took Inter just six minutes to enjoy its first league goal of the season as Calhanoglu floated in a corner from the right for Skriniar to head home.
Calhanoglu got on the scoresheet himself eight minutes later as he played a one-two with fellow new signing Dzeko before curling into the bottom right corner from more than 20 yards out.
Inter pressed hard for the third and eventually got it with 16 minutes remaining.
Genoa goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu could only parry Dzeko’s effort and Nicolo Barella flicked on the rebound for Vidal to sweep in from close range.
Dzeko, who joined from Roma recently, finally got his goal with three minutes remaining as he headed in a ball from Vidal.
Inzaghi’s replacement at Lazio, Maurizio Sarri, also got off to a winning start but the visitors had to bounce back to win 3-1 at newly promoted Empoli.
The hosts took a surprise fourth-minute lead when Filippo Bandinelli finished off a counter attack, but Sergej Milinkovic-Savic headed in the equaliser just two minutes later.
Lazio took the lead in the 31st when Manuel Lazzari played a one-two with Milinkovic-Savic before placing an angled drive into the bottom left corner.
The visitors doubled their advantage 10 minutes later when Ciro Immobile converted a penalty after Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario clattered into Francesco Acerbi.
After finishing third the past three seasons, Atalanta are looking to again challenge for the title and goals at either end of the match gave them a 2-1 win at Torino.
Luis Muriel scored in the sixth minute but Torino looked to have earned a well-deserved point when Andrea Belotti’s effort was deflected in with 11 minutes remaining.
However, substitute Roberto Piccoli – who had only come off the bench in the 83rd – snatched a late winner in stoppage time.
Sassuolo held on for a 3-1 victory over 10-man Hellas Verona, who had captain Miguel Veloso sent off on the stroke of halftime for a second yellow card.
