Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini
Gian Piero Gasperini may have only been in charge of Inter Milan for one Serie A fixture, but his long-term future at the San Siro has already come into question.
The coach opted to line the Nerazzurri up in an unorthodox 3-4-3 formation for the season opener against Palermo, a strategy which ultimately failed as they were beaten 4-3. What arguably raised even more eyebrows was his decision to start Wesley Sneijder, the club’s one true creative force, on the substitute’s bench.
Diego Milito, remember him?! He’s the one who had a fantastic 2010 under the guidance of Jose Mourinho before disappearing of the radar; twice put Inter in front, only to be pegged back by strikes from Fabrizio Miccoli and Abel Hernandez.
Cue the Inter collapse. The starting XI’s lack of defensive bodies was hugely exposed, with a further goal from Miccoli and a late striker from Mauricio Pinilla sealing the points for hosting Palermo.
Summer signing Diego Forlan reduced the arrears in stoppage time, assisted by a scorned Sneijder, but it was all too late for Gasperini and co.
So, what next for the man at the Inter helm? Well the 3-4-3 line-up will have to be shelved, and sharpish. Palermo’s creative midfield duo Hernandez and Josip Illicic flourished in spaces that should have been plugged by the presence of a defender.
And when fit, Sneijder starts. The Dutch international may have spent the summer flirting with Manchester United, but he has the key to unlock any defensive door, highlighted by his hand in Forlan’s late goal.
Not that this Sicily encounter was all about the Blue and Blacks. Uruguayan Hernandez showed just why he is being touted as the most natural replacement for Javier Hernandez, while veteran striker Miccoli produced deadly predatory instincts.
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Reigning champions AC Milan got their title defence of to a stuttering start after being held 2-2 at home by Lazio. Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse put the visitors in front on debut, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassano hit back.
There was no dream start for the Luis Enrique as AS Roma coach, seeing his new side slip to a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Cagliari. Daniele Conti and Moestafa El Kabir did the damage for the visitors, while Daniele de Rossi hit back for the Romans deep into stoppage time.
Juventus christened their new stadium in champagne style with four goals against Parma. Stephan Lichtsteiner, Simone Pepe, Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio claimed the goals for the Old Lady, with former Juve winger Sebastian Giovinco hitting a late consolation for Parma.
OTHER SCORES
Cesena 1-3 Napoli; Catania 0-0 Siena; Chievo 2-2 Novara; Fiorentina 2-0 Bologna; Genoa 2-2 Atalanta; Lecce 0-2 Udinese