Messina make no mistake

Serie A newcomers FC Messina Peloro led the way with a 4-0 victory against Acireale Calcio as the Coppa Italia got under way at the weekend.

No mistake
Four newly promoted top-flight sides - those that finished third, fourth, fifth and sixth in Serie B last season - were required to play in the opening round and Messina made no mistake against their lowly opposition. Riccardo Zampagna opened the scoring, Alessandro Parisi's penalty doubled the lead and goals from Atsushi Yanagisawa and Rafael completed the rout.

Portillo strikes
Atalanta BC strolled to victory in their game against SC Albinoleffe. Andrea Mandorlini's side were 2-0 by half-time thanks to goals from Giampaolo Pazzini and Pià, then Andrea Lazzari added his name to the scoresheet in the second half. ACF Fiorentina also shaped up for their Serie A campaign with a 3-0 win, defeating Como Calcio at home. William Viali and Real Madrid CF loan player Javier Portillo scoring either side of a Como own goal.

Protti heroics
The other top-flight side in action were Franco Colomba's AS Livorno Calcio, who made hard work of defeating Serie B side Ascoli Calcio. José Vidigal gave Colomba's side the lead midway through the second half but Dario Baccin quickly equalised and it was down to Igor Protti to score Livorno's 78th-minute winner.