AC Milan and Inter both earned their first wins of the season on Saturday to surge clear of the relegation zone.
Claudio Ranieri’s Inter reign began successfully after two goals in the last 10 minutes secured a 3-1 victory at Bologna.
And neighbors Milan also secured three points as veteran midfielder Clarence Seedorf scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at home to rock-bottom Cesena, who are still without a point.
Photo: AFP
For Ranieri it was the ideal start since replacing Gian Piero Gasperini, who was fired in midweek after losing four out of five games, and drawing the other.
Giampaolo Pazzini gave Inter a first-half lead before Alessandro Diamanti equalized from the spot.
The winner came from a somewhat generous penalty award in which Bologna’s Archimede Morleo was dismissed after the slightest of contact with Diego Milito in the box.
Milito converted the 81st-minute spot-kick, before Brazil center-back Lucio added a third, three minutes from time.
Milan went in front against Cesena five minutes in with a goal that owed a lot to sheer luck.
Seedorf cut in from the left and curled a cross into the box, but he overhit it and saw the ball beat Nicola Ravaglia in the Cesena goal as it sailed into the top corner.
The other game saw Napoli fail to move back to the top of the standings as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Fiorentina.
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