Saturday proved miserable for Serie A clubs in friendly action, with Sampdoria and Bologna trounced and only Lazio beating overseas opposition.
Bologna were beaten 3-0 by Hoffenheim in Germany, with the Champions League playoff qualifiers scoring two goals in three, first-half minutes.
Saturday proved miserable for Serie A clubs in friendly action, with Sampdoria and Bologna trounced and only Lazio beating overseas opposition.
Bologna were beaten 3-0 by Hoffenheim in Germany, with the Champions League playoff qualifiers scoring two goals in three, first-half minutes.
Pavel Kaderabek opened the scoring from a cross, before Lukas Rupp finished in the box.
It went from bad to worse for Bologna as Vasilis Torosidis needed just half an hour to be sent off for lashing out at Steven Zuber, before Bayern Munich loanee Serge Gnabry rounded off the victory after the break.
Sampdoria suffered a heavier loss, going down 4-0 to Swansea City.
The Blucerchiati donned their new, sponsor-less third kit but couldn’t find the performance it deserved as Leroy Fer leaps highest to nod the Premier League ahead.
Ricky Alvarez then doubled the Swans’ lead as his backpass caught goalkeeper Andrea Tozzo by surprise, which was followed up by Tammy Abraham turning in a cross, possibly with his arm.
Former Napoli defender Federico Fernandez then emerged at the back post for the hosts’ fourth and final goal.
Udinese had an abundance of chances but fell to a 2-1 reverse at the hands of AZ.
Rodrigo de Paul and Cyril Thereau wasted countless opportunities, allowing Marko Vejinovic to nip in with the opener for AZ and Joris van Overeem to make it 2-0 just before half-time.
The Zebrette did pull a goal back through Stipe Perica from the penalty spot, but it was too little too late.
Crotone and Cagliari were both involved in a 2-2 draw down south, where temperatures were in excess of 30°C.
Artur Ionita’s shot from outside the box fired Cagliari in front, but their lead was soon wiped out by Aleksandar Tonev and Andrea Barberis
Nonetheless, the Sardinians avoided defeat through Joao Pedro’s penalty after Mariano Izco handballed.
Finally, Lazio made it seven friendly wins out of seven after a 1-0 victory over Malaga for the Costa del Sol Trophy.
Ciro Immobile found the winner 10 minutes into the second half, his finish helped in by a Juan Carlos deflection.
There were also appearances for new signing Lucas Leiva and Keita Balde Diao, although the latter is expected to be benched for the Supercoppa against Juventus next weekend.
Moreover, Stefan Radu was forced off during the first half with a muscle knock.