Inter and Roma enjoy storming starts as Juventus underwhelm

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Juventus kicked off their Serie A title defence with an underwhelming draw against Sassuolo. Meanwhile, Inter and Roma recorded sizeable victories to make a bright start to the 2025/26 campaign.

Here’s how the first round of action in Italy’s top flight unfolded.

Sassuolo frustrate Juventus

Juventus should have entered match-day one full of confidence following their triumph in the inaugural Serie A Women’s Cup. Max Canzi’s side pulled off a 3-2 victory against Roma in the final to claim the first piece of silverware of the season. However, they were quickly brought down to earth in their league opener against Sassuolo.

The champions dominated the contest, and even hit the woodwork through Chiara Beccari in the second half. But, Sassuolo ultimately stood strong to hold out for a goalless draw and a hard-fought point.

Inter, Roma dispatch newly-promoted teams

In contrast to Juventus, Inter had no problem claiming maximum points in their clash against Ternana. Martina Tomaselli deftly lifted the ball over the goalkeeper to open the scoring. Ternana’s task got much tougher when Eleonora Pacioni was dismissed for two bookable offences in the 35th minute.

The newly-promoted side soon found themselves two down after Haley Bugeja drove a low shot into the bottom corner. Maša Tomašević, Tessa Wullaert and Nikée Dianá van Dijk all found the net in the second half to pile the misery on Ternana.

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Inter are expected to challenge Juventus in the Serie A title race along with two-time winners Roma, who started their campaign with a commanding display against newly-promoted Parma. Alice Corelli squeezed home an early opener to set the tone for the contest. Rinsola Babajide then headed in from a corner to net her first Serie A goal following her summer move from Costa Adeje Tenerife.

Roma captain Manuela Giugliano added a third with a stunning strike in the opening stages of the second half. After Giugliano effectively sealed all three points, Giulia Dragoni applied the gloss to the win with a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

AC Milan, Lazio prevail on the road

AC Milan staged a late turnaround to beat Genoa at the weekend. Alice Söndergaard turned the ball in from close range to give the newly-promoted side a narrow half-time lead. Milan were behind until the 84th minute, when Evelyn Ijeh powered a header in from Chanté Dompig’s inswinging cross. Emma Koivisto completed the turnaround in the seventh minute of stoppage time, nodding home from a deflected shot to snatch all three points.

Meanwhile, Clarisse Le Bihan played a starring role in Lazio’s 2-1 win over Como. The 30-year-old squeezed between two defenders to head home from Elisabetta Oliviero’s inviting cross. Le Bihan then provided the delivery for Martina Piemonte to glance the ball out of Astrid Gilardi’s reach for Lazio’s second. Como’s Veronica Bernardi pulled a goal back in the 89th minute, but it ultimately proved too little too late for the hosts.

Napoli sink Fiorentina

Napoli required one goal to take three points off Fiorentina on matchday one of the new Serie A season. The contest remained goalless until Cecilie Fløe Nielsen found the breakthrough in the 76th minute. Melissa Bellucci stole the ball high up the pitch, before she saw her effort saved by Cecilie Fiskerstrand. However, the rebound broke kindly for Fløe Nielsen to tap into an empty net.

Best goal of Serie A matchday one

Giugliano showed her class with Roma’s third goal at the weekend. The Italy international took aim from the edge of the box and rifled an unstoppable strike into the top corner, making it our standout strike of matchday one.