Milan: Visiting Sampdoria stunned AC Milan 1-0 in their opening Serie A match on Sunday through Andrea Costa's headed goal in the 60th minute. Kevin-Prince Boateng almost rescued a point for Milan in stoppage time but his effort crashed off the right post.
Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini could also have scored in a frantic finale but his effort was cleared off the line by Sampdoria defender Daniele Gastaldello.
The result marks a memorable start for promoted Sampdoria and new coach Ciro Ferrara, whereas Milan has until Friday to bring in reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
Milan was jeered off the pitch by their fans after the game, while the Sampdoria players stayed behind to soak up the applause from their travelling supporters. The Rossoneri already find themselves on the back foot, after defending champion Juventus beat Parma 2-0 on Saturday and Napoli beat Palermo 3-0.
A breathtaking goal from Pablo Osvaldo was not enough to give Roma all three points, as it was held to a 2-2 draw at home by Catania in Zdenek Zeman's return to the Roma coaching post after a 13-year absence.
This was Milan's first game without star strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassano as well as key defender Thiago Silva, who were all sold during the offseason.
Club icons Alessandro Nesta, Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso and Filippo Inzaghi left the club at the end of last season, along with Mark Van Bommel and Gianluca Zambrotta.
The San Siro also featured banners berating Cassano, who moved to bitter rival Inter Milan on Wednesday in a swap deal for Giampaolo Pazzini. Milan was also hampered by the absences of captain Massimo Ambrosini, Ignazio Abate, Alexandre Pato, Sulley Muntari and Rodney Strasser through injury.
The game almost got off to a perfect start for the visitors when Eder took advantage of a glaring error by Daniele Bonera and raced toward goal. However, Bonera atoned for his mistake and did well to clear the danger and avoid conceding a penalty.
Seconds later, Boateng should have scored but failed to control the ball and Sampdoria goalkeeper Sergio Romero was able to gather. Milan struggled to create any meaningful chances and looked dangerously exposed at the back.
Robinho had two good chances after the break, but his effort landed on the roof of the net and then Romero did well to save another long-range effort from the Brazilian forward. Pazzini made his debut in the 57th minute, but it was his former club that took the lead moments later.
Costa rose highest in the area to powerfully head a corner into the bottom left of the net with goalkeeper Christian Abbiati rooted to the spot. Milan's chances of an equalizer dipped when Robinho limped off the pitch and was replaced by Urby Emanuelson.
The hosts thought they had leveled five minutes later, but Romero parried Yepes' header onto the post from point-blank range and grabbed the ball just as it was about to go over the line.
Kevin Constant almost scored with five minutes to go, on his Milan debut, but he fired straight at Romero from close range.
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