Inter suffer miserable start to title defence

ROME: Inter Milan suffered a miserable start to their Italian title defence on Sunday when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Udinese and finished the match with 10 men.

In contrast, city rivals AC Milan, the European champions, enjoyed a 3-0 win at promoted Genoa with Brazilian ace Kaka hitting two goals.

However, it's Juventus marked their return to Serie A with a 5-1 demolition of Livorno on Saturday with French striker David Trezeguet grabbing a hat-trick.

Inter went into the match at the San Siro without the injured defender Marco Materazzi as well as influential midfielder Patrick Vieira.

But they were ahead after just nine minutes when Dejan Stankovic beat the offside trap and stroked the ball past Antonio Chimenti.

Inter should have added to their total but they were rocked when goalkeeper Julio Cesar was sent off in the 57th minute for handling the ball outside his area.

The champions held on until the second minute of injury time when Udinese equalised in bizarre circumstances when Ivan Cordoba put through his own goal as Gerald Asamoah closed in for the visitors.

Kaka scored twice in the closing minutes of the first half, the second from a penalty, as Milan ruined Genoa's return to the top flight after a 12-year absence.

Massimo Ambrosini had put Milan in front in the 21st minute.

In Sunday's late match, last season's runners-up Roma, buoyed by their Super Cup triumph over Inter last week, beat Palermo 2-0 in Sicily with first half goals from Philippe Mexes and Alberto Aquilani.

Promoted Napoli were first day losers sinking to a 2-0 defeat at home to Cagliari in their first Serie A match since 2001.

Alessandro Matri and Naples-born Pasquale Foggia, from the penalty spot, were on target for the Sardinian side.

At the Stadio Tardini, Catania coach Silvio Baldini had to be dragged away after a confrontation with Parma's Mimmo Di Carlo in the 2-2 draw.

Baldini was sent off for dissent, but before leaving the field he apparently kicked out at his Parma counterpart.

Juve, who were demoted to Serie B last year as punishment for their role in the match-fixing scandal which rocked Italy, took out their frustration on modest Livorno.

Trezeguet opened the scoring in the 28th minute from a left-wing cross by Alessandro Del Piero.

But Juve had to wait until late in the game to make sure of the three points.

In the 71st minute, Vincenzo Iaquinta, making his debut after leaving Udinese, was hauled down in the box by Alessandro Grandoni as he chased a Pavel Nedved through ball.