Genoa snatch rare away win

Genoa have opened their Serie A campaign with a rare away win defeating Udinese 1-0 at the Stadio Friuli.

But the visitors were left counting the cost to their new-look squad, with Luca Toni and Raffaele Palladino both going down with injuries.

Portugal international keeper Eduardo proved his worth in his debut for Genoa, thwarting concerted efforts from Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale on more than one occasion.

Genoa's free-flowing football began to dominate after a pedestrian first half, but it took until the 80th minute for substitute Giandomenico Mesto to get the breakthrough.

Dario Dainelli got onto a free kick inside the box, heading towards Mesto who beat Udinese stopper Samir Handanovic with a spectacular bicycle kick that sailed into the left corner of the net.

Genoa move provisionally to the top of the table after the first round, but look to have lost Toni to a serious leg injury and Palladino to a suspected dislocated shoulder.

They host Chievo at the Marassi on September 12, while Udinese travel to the San Siro to take on defending champions Inter Milan.

In Saturday's other Serie A game, AS Roma and Cesena played out a 0-0 draw at Stadio Olimpico.

The newly-promoted Cesena will be thrilled to come away as equals against title-challengers Roma, who were unable to convert from passages of dominant football.

Cesena stopper Francesco Antonioli was the hero for the visitors, coming off his line to deny Roma midfielder Matteo Brighi a late winner.

Cesena face another difficult opponent in AC Milan on September 12, while Roma travel to the Sant'Elia to face Cagliari.