Ciro Immobile and Mario Balotelli scored decisive goals, but Alessio Cerci and Cesare Prandelli had poor debuts.
The Champions League group phase began tonight and there was at least one Italian involved in all eight games.
Ciro Immobile and Mario Balotelli scored decisive goals, but Alessio Cerci and Cesare Prandelli had poor debuts.
The Champions League group phase began tonight and there was at least one Italian involved in all eight games.
Immobile hit the headlines, as he broke his Borussia duck and the deadlock in a 2-0 victory over Arsenal. It was a fine goal, starting from midfield and holding off two defenders to fire in an angled drive.
Balotelli also netted his first goal in a Liverpool jersey, leaving it to the 82nd minute in their dramatic 2-1 victory over Ludogorets at Anfield. He showed great strength to hold out between two defenders and flick the finish with the outside of his boot.
Carlo Ancelotti got back on track with Real Madrid, who crushed Basel 5-1.
It wasn’t such a good story for another Italian Coach, as Prandelli’s Galatasaray snatched a last-gasp 1-1 home draw with Anderlecht.
Cerci finally made his Atletico Madrid debut, but the substitute could not prevent their surprise 3-2 defeat to Olympiacos in Athens.
That fixture is particularly important, as they are in the same group as Juventus.
Elsewhere, Andrea Raggi’s Monaco beat Giulio Donati’s Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 and Domenico Criscito’s Zenit won 2-0 at Benfica, who have ex-Milan midfielder Bryan Cristante in their ranks.