01.09.2013 23:22 h

Football: Juve, Napoli shine as Serie A enjoys goals blitz

Champions Juventus and leaders Napoli underlined their scudetto credentials with convincing wins but this season's title favourites were not alone as potential rivals took part in a Serie A goals blitz.

Juventus, who routed Lazio 4-0 to win the Italian Super Cup two weeks ago, outclassed Vladimir Petkovic's men 4-1 on Saturday when Napoli emerged from Chievo with a 4-2 win thanks notably to a second successive Marek Hamsik brace.

From the remaining eight games on Sunday a total of 32 goals were scored. Not bad for a league once known for it's overly-defensive 'catenaccio' system of play.

In Sunday's early match Serbian Adem Ljajic scored on his debut for Roma as Rudi Garcia's side hit three unanswered goals past Verona, who had stunned AC Milan last week, inside 10 second-half minutes.

Fiorentina also turned on the class, Giuseppe Rossi scoring a brace and Mario Gomez claiming his maiden Serie A goals, his second from the penalty spot in injury time, in an entertaining 5-2 win away to Genoa that began with Alberto Aquilani's 10th minute opener.

AC Milan got the chance to test new striker Alessandro Matri, signed from Juventus in midweek, after Mario Balotelli had scored the Rossoneri's third in a one-sided 3-1 win at home to Cagliari.

Robinho, starting in place of Stephan El Shaarawy, opened the scoring on eight minutes and although Marco Sau scored a screamer two minutes after Philippe Mexes had given Milan a 2-1 lead, Balotelli settled nerves with a fine solo effort just after the hour.

City rivals Inter, meanwhile, emerged from the potential banana skin of a trip to Catania with all three points to remain second.

Inter had Rodrigo Palacio to thank for a 20th minute opener after the Argentinian striker tapped home Jonathan's bullet pass across goal.

The Nerazzurri, looking to improve after a disastrous ninth place finish under Andrea Stramaccioni, saw Japan international Yuto Nagatomo score a first-time bullet header from Palacio's cross on 56 minutes for his second goal in as many games.

Inter secured all three points 10 minutes from time thanks to Riccardo Alvarez.

Elsewhere Atalanta secured a 2-0 win over visitors Torino, visitors Sampdoria held Bologna to a 2-2 draw remain second, on the same points as Napoli, third-placed Roma, Fiorentina and Juve.

On Saturday Carlos Tevez scored his second Serie A goal in as many weeks as Juve thumped 10-man Lazio 4-1.

Having scored the winner in a 1-0 win over Sampdoria last week, the Argentine striker capped a dominant display by the hosts - marked notably by a brace from Chilean Arturo Vidal - with a fine individual effort in the 80th minute.

Juve coach Antonio Conte said: "Putting four goals past Lazio again is a sign that our form is getting better, both on a collective and individual level.

"We were spectacular in the first 25 minutes in terms of intensity and execution of our gameplan. Then, after Lazio scored we lost our rhythm and some of our aggression.

"We gave Lazio a few goalscoring opportunities and I've warned the lads, but they were all superb on the night."

Napoli remained top thanks to the man who has stepped admirably into the shoes of Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani.

Gonzalo Higuain was signed from Real Madrid barely two weeks ago as a direct replacement for Cavani, who led Serie A with 29 goals last season before his big money move to Paris Saint Germain.

By the time the Argentine had grabbed Napoli's fourth, and his first for the club, Hamsik had already signalled his improved scoring potential by scoring his fourth in two games to leave Napoli top on goals difference.