Kvaratskhelia guides Conte's Napoli to win over Bologna

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia starred as Napoli got their first win under Antonio Conte on Sunday by beating Bologna 3-0, while Roma slumped to a shock 2-1 home defeat to Empoli.

Georgia star Kvaratskhelia netted Napoli's second with 15 minutes remaining in an absorbing contest at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

But while his deflected strike ensured Napoli of the three points and redemption after last weekend's humbling at Verona, Kvaratskhelia's real touch of class came in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

The 23-year-old, who also hit the crossbar, clipped a delightful pass over the Bologna defence for the onrushing Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who lashed home the opening goal and unleashed joy both in the stands and on the touchline.

Napoli turn on the style against Bologna to secure their first win of the season ⚽⚽⚽#NapoliBologna pic.twitter.com/t7Yvc2VxuG

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 25, 2024

Napoli captain Di Lorenzo was heavily criticised after his dire performances at Euro 2024, where Italy were dumped out as reigning champions in the quarterfinals by Switzerland.

But his goal helped Napoli beat an enterprising Bologna team who should have more than the one point that they have collected from their first two matches.

And substitute Giovanni Simeone made it a brilliant home debut for Conte when he forced home Napoli's third deep in added time.

Also on one point are Roma who lost to Empoli at home for the first time in their history after a hugely disappointing display in which Paulo Dybala staying in the Italian capital wasn't enough to inspire Daniele De Rossi's side.

Emmanuel Gyasi's tap-in on the stroke of halftime and a Lorenzo Colombo penalty in the 61st minute sank Roma, who pulled one back through Eldor Shomurodov with 10 minutes remaining but couldn't complete a comeback.

Dybala, whose move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Qadsiah collapsed on Thursday, was one of three Roma players to hit the woodwork alongside Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gianluca Mancini.

But Roma were booed off the pitch for the way they fell two goals behind against a team which is expected to struggle against relegation.

ADAMS EMULATES LAW

Earlier, Che Adams emulated Denis Law with the decisive goal in Torino's 2-1 win over Atalanta on Sunday, delighting fans who had called for the owner to sell in mass pre-match protests.

Scotland striker Adams netted his first goal for Torino since signing as a free agent last month, tapping home the hosts' second four minutes after halftime.

The 28-year-old became the first of his countrymen to score for Torino since Scotland and Manchester United legend Law in the 1961/62 season.

Adams rolling in the winner after Duvan Zapata's low shot was saved made it a perfect home debut in which he also set up Ivan Ilic's delightful dinked equaliser in the 31st minute.

His strike, and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saving Mario Pasalic's penalty deep in stoppage time, put Torino on four points from their first two matches.

The win came after thousands of fans marched to the game together to demand that owner Urbano Cairo sell the club after 19 largely drab years at the helm.

Cairo is a media magnate who owns the RCS group which publishes the Gazzetta Dello Sport and historic Italian daily Corriere Della Sera and organises major Italian cycling races including the Giro d'Italia grand tour.

Fiorentina were held to a goalless draw by Venezia in the day's other early kick-off.