AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca. (Photo : Getty Images)
Last season's contending teams SSC Napoli (0-0-1, 1 point) and AC Milan (1-0-0, 3 points) started the 2016-2017 Serie A term in different fashions as they meet at the former's home ground of Stadio San Paolo on August 27, Saturday for their Week 2 fixture.
Napoli, who fell short of the Scudetto after placing second to Juventus in the Italian top flight's overall standings last term, was stunned by newly-promoted side Delfino Pescara 1936 as the two teams settled to a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Adriatico on Sunday, as per SB Nation.
Pescara's Libyan right winger Ahmad Benali netted the opening goal right at the eighth minute of the match while teammate striker Gianluca Caprari doubled their lead with a left-footed shot at the 35th to shock head coach Maurizio Sarri in the first half.
However, Gli Azzurri regained composure in the final 45 minutes as substitute German striker Dries Mertens pulled off a brace to help the team salvage the draw. Mertens was sent in to replace starting forward Lorenzo Insigne at the 53rd minute.
It was an ugly start to the season for Partenopei as the team evidently missed the services of Serie A's top goalscorer Gonzalo Higuaín, who moved to Juve in the summer for a fee of £75.3 million.
Meanwhile, Milan survived a late rally from Torino FC to escape with a 3-2 decision at their home field of Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in San Siro also last Sunday, Goal reported.
Rossoneri got off to a blazing start with a hat trick from Colombian striker Carlos Bacca, scoring at the 38th, 50th, and 62nd minutes, while Il Toro was only able to strike once from forward Andrea Belotti at the 48th.
With the game seemed over and done at the stroke of full time, midfielder Daniele Baselli was able to cut the lead to a single point with a right-footed shot in injury time off a headed pass from teammate Lorenzo De Silvestri.
Milan defender Gabriel Paletta was then sent off a few minutes later, awarding the visitors a penalty kick and a chance to tie the score late in the game.
However, Il Diavolo's 17-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Belotti's spot kick to preserve his team's win and three points in the overall standings.
The predicted result is a 2-1 win for AC Milan.
Napoli starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Reina; Soderlund, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Valdifiori, Hamsik; Callejon, Gabbiadini, Insigne
AC Milan starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Donnarumma; Abate, De Sciglio, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Kucka, Montolivo, Bonaventura; Suso, Bacca, Niang
