Goal.com

Goal.com looks at the star performers from the opening round of Italian league action at the weekend

Serie A bounced back after a rollercoaster summer with a host of excellent matches over the weekend, and a fine collection of individual performances were in evidence around the peninsula. Inter and Napoli both recorded convincing away wins, and each have players in our inaugural Team of the Week as a result, while Sampdoria and Lazio also contribute after victories on the road as eight of our 11 come from teams who were in visiting dressing rooms. Here, Goal.com presents the star performers from the first round of action in Serie A.

One of the most notable results of the weekend came at San Siro, where Sampdoria grabbed a memorable 1-0 win on their return to the top flight. Part of the reason for their success was the form of Sergio Romero between the sticks. The Argentina international wasn't tested as much as he might have anticipated, but still did brilliantly to push a Mario Yepes effort onto the post and was an excellent leader at the back, with his anticipation and organisation ensuring that the Blucerchiati held out Milan late on.

Champions Juventus got off to a perfect start, beating Parma 2-0, and for a second successive season it was Stephan Lichtsteiner who opened the campaign with a goal. He was also resolute at the back, earning a spot on the right of our back three - a position he turned out in over the summer for the Bianconeri. He joins Danilo, Udinese's captain for the day, who followed up his magnificent performance in the Champions League against Braga in midweek by leading the Friulani to within three minutes of a precious point away to Fiorentina. Andrea Ranocchia earns the final defensive spot for his measured and mature showing against newly-promoted Pescara at the Adriatico. The former Genoa man will have quite a spotlight on him this term, but the early signs are positive.

Lazio provide 50 per cent of our midfield after chalking up a hugely merited win at Atalanta. Stefano Mauri was as creative as ever in a typically cultured attacking outfit, while Anderson Hernanes proved to be the right man in the right place at the right time as he turned in a low cross to chalk up the only goal of the game, capping a fine individual display. Marek Hamsik was also on the scoresheet, netting a powerful drive from Christian Maggio's pass against Palermo, and he also added an assist for Maggio in Napoli's 3-0 win. Kwadwo Asamoah followed his excellent Supercoppa Italiana performance with another encouraging display down the left for Juventus against Parma, showing once more that he could well go down as the signing of the summer.

Along the front line there was a large group of talent to choose from, but nobody did more for his team's cause than Stevan Jovetic. The Montenegrin was on hand to net Fiorentina's equaliser against Udinese before bagging a 91st-minute winner to send the Viola fans home happy in the season's opening fixture. Diego Milito outshone new team-mate Antonio Cassano in Inter's strikeforce by setting up goals for Wesley Sneijder and Philippe Coutinho. He also found time in between to turn home Cassano's low cross for a goal of his own in the 3-0 win in Pescara. Alejandro Gomez takes the final spot in the side for his lively display and cool finish for Catania, who very nearly left the Stadio Olimpico with all three points but had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Roma.

ROMERO

SAMPDORIA

vs Milan (A)

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TOTW Apps: 1

LICHTSTEINER	DANILO	RANOCCHIA
JUVENTUS	UDINESE	INTER
vs Parma (H)	vs Fiorentina (A)	vs Pescara (A)
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TOTW Apps: 1	TOTW Apps: 1	TOTW Apps: 1

MAURI	HAMSIK	HERNANES	ASAMOAH
LAZIO	NAPOLI	LAZIO	JUVENTUS
vs Atalanta (A)	vs Palermo (A)	vs Atalanta (A)	vs Parma (H)
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TOTW Apps: 1	TOTW Apps: 1	TOTW Apps: 1	TOTW Apps: 1

JOVETIC

FIORENTINA

vs Udinese (H)

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TOTW Apps: 1

	MILITO	GOMEZ
	INTER	CATANIA
	vs Pescara (A)	vs Roma (A)
	Rating:	Rating:
	TOTW Apps: 1	TOTW Apps: 1