Serie A, Round 2: AC Milan, Parma score 9 in the game of the weekend

Can Milan and Parma play every week? This match had everything: red cards, fantastic back-heeled goals, players unwilling to abide by the vanishing spray, hilarious defending, Nigel De Jong sprinting 50 meters, and an own-goal that somehow managed to cause the ‘keeper injury. And they say soccer is boring.

Milan were on top right from the start, intending to make clear that this was a new era -- under Filippe Inzaghi, Parma would certainly not be beating the storied rossoneri. Parma did get a chance to make a counterargument early on; however, Diego Lopez managed to get a finger to Ishak Belfodil’s shot, tipping it around the post.

Obviously a very bad defensive error makes this goal possible, but let’s ignore that and appreciate what Jeremy Menez just did here. He takes the ball wide, squares it to no one thinking that he’d run out of bounds and back around the goalkeeper and all the way across the goal. He probably thought he’d have an easy tap-in instead of a backheel, but still. Backheel.

Also, this was the eighth goal of this game. EIGHT GOALS.

By the end of the match, the Napoli fans’ unrest was evident. Having already failed to lead his side into the Champions League, it will be interesting to see just how much more time Rafa Benítez is given in Naples.

Napoli actually started the game quite brightly, but the visitors came to the San Paolo fully prepared with the knowledge of how to shut this side down. They sat back, playing an ultra-defensive game, only rarely threatening on the counter. Discipline and patience were key to breaking down this Napoli side.

Juventus continued to dominate throughout the first half, and had they been more incisive with their final pass, they probably would’ve scored a hatful before the halftime whistle. They went closest to doubling their advantage through former Udinese man Pereyra in the 29th minute, though he skied his shot over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Juventus: Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Cáceres; Evra, Pogba, Marchisio, Pereyra (Padoin 85’), Lichtsteiner; Tévez (Coman 81’), Llorente.

It looked ever more like the game would be goalless at the break, until Nainggolan’s low shot squirmed into the back of the net in stoppage time to silence the home crowd.

The Stadio Carlo Castellani was rejuvenated by Empoli’s bright start to the second half, though despite a string of corners soon after the restart, the hosts stayed in arrears. Maicon nearly punished their profligacy shortly before the hour mark, but he was denied by Sepe from point-blank range after a smart one-two with Florenzi.

Sunday, September 14 at 8:45 p.m. CET / 2:45 p.m. ET

Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma

Key matchup - Juventus’ makeshift midfield vs. Udinese’s midfield

Juventus injuries and suspensions