Coppa Italia: The favorites don't give up

Twenty-four hours before the clash between FC Südtirol and Serie A club Como, the first four matches of the Italian Cup were scheduled. All of them ended with a win for the favorites.

August 15, 2025

From: leo

Three first-division teams, Sassuolo, Lecce, and Genoa, were in action on Friday evening. However, Serie A relegated side Empoli kicked off the match, struggling to a 2-1 penalty shootout victory against this year's Serie B rivals Reggiana. Luca Belardinelli, a last-year player for FC Südtirol, converted the decisive effort.

Catanzaro later gave Sassuolo a good run, but were defeated 0-1. Joshua Doig scored the winner with a pass from Domenico Berardi. The Neroverdi will now face either FC Südtirol or Como. Kick-off is on Saturday at 18.30:XNUMX p.m.

Genoa without problems

In the evening, Serie C club Vicenza had no chance against Genoa. Two goals shortly before halftime turned the game the way Patrick Vieira's team wanted. Valentin Carboni (40') and Nicolae Stanciu (55') scored for the favorites, and Francesco Benassai also scored an own goal (45').

Genoa won easily. © Genoa CFC / Social Media

Lecce had already beaten Juve Stabia (Serie B) 2-0 – despite the Apulian club playing with a man down for half a game. Lameck Banda received a straight red card in first-half stoppage time. Goalscorer Nikola Krstovic had earlier given them the lead with a penalty (27'). Mohamed Kaba sealed the final score in the 95th minute.

Coppa Italia, 1st round:

Empoli – Reggiana 2:1 on penalties
Goals: 0:1 Gondo (13th), 1:1 Ilie (65th); decisive penalty: Belardinelli

Sassuolo 1-0 Catanzaro
Goals: 1-0 Doig (32.)

Lecce – Juventus Stabia 2-0
Goals: 1-0 penalty Krstovic (27th), 2-0 Kaba (90+5th)

Genoa 3-0 Vicenza
Goals: 1-0 Carboni (40th), 2-0 own goal Benassai (45th), 3-0 Stanciu (55th)