Italian Serie A Team of the Week

The biggest shock result came via AC Milan, who began life without Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva with a 1-0 defeat against new boys Sampdoria. In contrast, their neighbours Inter Milan romped to a 3-0 win over another newly-promoted side, Pescara.

Juventus began their season in the same fashion as the last - strikers misfiring, and needing Andrea Pirlo to come to the rescue in their dominating 2-0 win over Parma. A new-look Fiorentina recorded a steady 2-1 win over Udinese, while Roma's revolution under Zdenak Zeman stuttered to a 2-2 draw against Catania.

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We go with a 3-5-2 formation this week.

GK: Marco Storari (Juventus)

No Buffon, no problem for Juventus. While he was largely untested in the first half against Parma, Storari excelled when called upon later in the game when the Bianconeri pushed further up in search for a goal. He denied Jonathan Biabiany late in the game and then pulled off a world-class double save to keep his side in the game.

RWB: Cristian Maggio (Napoli)

The Italy international was a constant threat for Napoli as they recorded a 3-0 win over Palermo. He linked up well with Marek Hamsik in the middle and provided the Slovak with a goal, who then returned the favour for Maggio to score on the break.

CB: Angelo Ogbonna (Torino)

Prior to the start of this season, Ogbonna had already accumulated 122 first-team appearances despite only being 24, but was still untested in the Serie A. His call-up to the Italy squad for Euro 2012 showed that he has potential, but there were doubts as to whether he could survive in the top flight. Nonetheless, he proved he is the genuine article in a commanding performance as Torino returned to the Serie A with a 0-0 draw against Siena.

CB: Giovanni Marchese (Catania)

Catania were given a tall task in their bid to replicate their strong showing last season after losing manager Vincenzo Montella to Fiorentina, but grabbed an impressive 2-2 draw against Roma. Marchese saw plenty of action up against Roma on both ends, where he grabbed a goal amidst a chaotic freekick rebound, while also scrambling to deny Osvaldo on a few occasions.

CB: Daniele Gastaldello (Sampdoria)

New boys Sampdoria grabbed a famous 1-0 win over AC Milan on the opening day and Gastaldello had a huge part to play in it. With Ibrahimovic gone, Milan's main threat came from Robinho and Gastaldello was there to ensure the Brazilian had a torrid match. The 29-year-old made a perfectly-timed challenge to deny the Brazilian a one-on-one chance on goal, rescuing a precious win for his side.

LWB: Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus)

Asamoah was Juventus' brightest spark in a dominant yet labored win over Parma. He looked dangerous whenever he made a slaloming run down the left flank and provided Emmanuele Giaccherini with the goal, although he should have had more assists but for the wastefulness of his strikers. 

CM: Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)

The Italian pass master sported a new rugged look for the new season but his playing style didn't change much. He was majestic in midfield, again easily pulling the strings for Juve and deservingly scored a goal with an excellent freekick.

CM: Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan)

The Dutchman faded into obscurity last season after being played out of position by Gian Piero Gasperini but he looked much like his old self in Inter Milan's 3-0 win over Pescara.
He opened the scoring for Inter with a tap-in goal and sparked off the move for their second goal with a perfectly-weighted pass for Antonio Cassano to tee up Diego Milito.

CM: Marek Hamsik (Napoli)

It's a real surprise nobody has swooped for him in the transfer window while Ezequiel Lavazzi and Edinson Cavani were hogging transfer headlines.

Definitely the most lethal player in Napoli's ranks, Hamsik continued the new season in the same vein as the previous one - pulling strings in the middle, threading passes through with his vision and grabbing goals for his side. One goal and one assist one game into the new season - well done, Marek.

ST: Diego Milito (Inter Milan)

Like Sneijder, Milito has found a new lease of life under Andrea Stramaccioni and continued to repay his manager's faith in him. He set up Sneijder and Philippe Coutinho with easy goals and finished one himself as the Nerazzurri ran out 3-0 winners.

ST: Stefan Jovetic (Fiorentina)

It's little wonder that Jovetic has been linked with top clubs across Europe over the summer. He showed lethal finishing to grab a brace for Fiorentina as they came from behind and beat Udinese 2-1. Both goals came from defensive errors, but that's what a superb striker does - he punishes defenders for their mistakes.

Special Mention: Pablo Osvaldo & Daniele De Rossi

While Roma fans may not be entirely satisfied with the 2-2 draw against Catania, the Giallorossi did showed superb creativity and attacking verve, which can be exemplified by Osvaldo's ridiculous bicycle kick goal.

De Rossi dinked the ball from deep into the box for the big striker to turn and somehow generate enough power to strike the ball into the net. A potential goal of the season on the first day already - who said the Serie A was dull and boring?!