Empoli delivered a remarkable performance to secure a 2-1 victory over Roma, marking the first time the Giallorossi have ever lost a home Serie A encounter against this opponent.The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was electric before kick-off, with much of the excitement centered around Paulo Dybala’s decision to stay in the Eternal City for another season. However, the anticipation from the stands didn’t seem to translate onto the field, as Roma found themselves outplayed for most of the first half. Jacopo Fazzini posed numerous challenges for the Giallorossi with his aggressive runs, coming close to scoring with a deflected shot that went just wide. Moments later, an unmarked Emmanuel Gyasi narrowly missed a header from the ensuing corner.Roma were flirting with disaster, and their luck almost ran out when Lorenzo Colombo, with the goal at his mercy, headed the ball onto the crossbar after Mile Svilar had initially saved a Fazzini shot. Just as it seemed the first half might end in a stalemate, Empoli broke through when Gyasi tapped in Colombo’s flick-on at the back post, putting the visitors ahead.The home side, met with jeers at halftime, needed a strong response and nearly found an equalizer within ten minutes of the restart. Lorenzo Pellegrini’s powerful strike rattled the crossbar, and Gianluca Mancini’s header from the rebound hit the post. Despite Roma’s increased attacking pressure, Empoli remained dangerous on the counter and capitalized on their opportunity to extend the lead. Leandro Paredes was at fault for losing the ball in midfield and then compounded the error by fouling Sebastiano Esposito in the box, resulting in a penalty that Colombo confidently converted.Empoli, who were involved in the fewest Serie A matches last season where both teams scored, saw that statistic go against them here as Eldor Shomurodov’s towering header from a Nicola Zalewski cross pulled one back for Roma. The Azzurri Empolesi had to withstand a late barrage, including a stoppage-time shot from Dybala that struck the post, but ultimately held on for an impressive win. This victory takes Empoli to four points from their first two matches – an excellent start for a team that narrowly avoided relegation last season. Meanwhile, after a goalless draw with Cagliari in their Serie A opener, this unexpected defeat deepens Roma’s troubling start to the campaign.Meanwhile, Antonio Conte notched his first victory as Napoli head coach, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s goal and assist guided the hosts to a 3-0 triumph over Bologna at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.With temperatures in Naples soaring above 30 degrees Celsius, Conte faced additional pressure in the days leading up to this match following a humbling 3-0 loss to Hellas Verona on the opening day, compounded by uncertainty surrounding Victor Osimhen’s future. The Nigerian forward was absent from the squad, with hopes pinned on Romelu Lukaku’s potential arrival from Chelsea. However, it was Giacomo Raspadori, a current Napoli forward, who nearly eased the tension for his manager just two minutes into the match, as his left-footed shot from distance narrowly missed the target.Bologna suffered an early setback with the loss of summer signing Martin Erlić to injury within the first 20 minutes, and their situation worsened in first-half stoppage time when they conceded a beautifully crafted Napoli goal that football aficionados will likely revisit often. Kvaratskhelia delivered a sublime lofted pass, allowing Giovanni Di Lorenzo to control and smash his shot past Łukasz Skorupski.Bologna responded with a period of sustained possession early in the second half, but they struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. The best chance fell to Michel Aebischer, whose first-time volley sailed harmlessly over the crossbar. Conte’s side gradually regained control, with Matteo Politano finding space inside the box only to see his left-footed effort miss the near post.Kvaratskhelia then doubled Napoli’s advantage in the 75th minute, picking up the ball in the center of the pitch before his deflected shot off Sam Beukema found the bottom corner past a helpless Skorupski.Napoli capped off their victory with a third goal deep into stoppage time when Giovanni Simeone bundled in a close-range finish from a David Neres cross. This result handed Bologna their first defeat of the season under Vincenzo Italiano, who now has a draw and a loss in his opening two matches. For Napoli, the win ended an eight-match winless run in Serie A dating back to last season and marked their first home victory since beating Juventus 2-1 in early March.SERIE A MATCHDAY 2SaturdayUdinese – Lazio 2-1 (1-0)/Lucca 5, Thauvin 49 – Isaksen 90+5/Parma – Milan 2-1 (1-0)/Man 2, Cancellieri 77 – Pulisic 66/Monza – Genoa 0-1 (0-1)/Pinamonti 45+7/Inter – Lecce 2-0 (1-0)/Darmian 5, Calhanoglu 69 pen/SundayTorino – Atalanta 2-1 (1-1)/Ilic 31, Adams 49 – Retegui 26/Fiorentina – Venezia 0-0Roma – Empoli 1-2 (0-1)/Shomurodov 80 – Gyasi 45, Colombo 61 pen/Napoli – Bologna 3-0 (1-0)/Di Lorenzo 45+2, Kvaratskhelia 75, Simeone 90+4/Monday19:30: (2.20) Cagliari (3.50) Como (3.50)21:45: (5.40) Verona (3.60) Juventus (1.70)***odds are subject to change***
