At dawn on Sunday, the new Serie A season kicked off with a series of unexpected "cold" games. Last season's champions Inter Milan and runners-up AC Milan both drew 2-2 in an eye-opening encounter. What's even more amazing is that all four opening day matches ended in draws, as if the players were experiencing the "lethargy" of summer and had not yet fully committed themselves.
Looking back at last season, Inter Milan led the pack with a massive 19 points. However, in this first match of the new season, they engaged in a tug-of-war with Genoa and trailed for a while in the first 20 minutes of the match. Genoa scored a goal from a penalty kick, scored by Wojtyla from the back line. But Inter quickly responded when Nicolou Ballena crossed from the right and Magus Dulin made it 1-1 with a header.The Frenchman added a second in the 82nd minute to temporarily overtake Inter with a 2-1 lead.
However, in extra time, Inter's central midfielder N'Bissik committed a handball foul in the box. After a VAR-assisted decision, he was penalized with a 12-yard penalty. Although Genoa striker Zuliamesias' shot was parried by keeper Ennishema, he added the extras to make it 2-2.
AC Milan's home match with Toledo was even more tumultuous, with AC Milan trailing by two goals until the 88th minute, when new striker Ewalu Morada came on as a substitute and quickly pulled one back. In stoppage time, substitute Noah Okakogan put the ball into the net to give AC Milan a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile, Parma and Ferencia and Amboli and Monza also drew 1-1 and 0-0 respectively, with all four matches on the first day of the new Serie A season ending in draws.
