MILAN, Italy (AFP) — Napoli thrashed Bologna 3-0 yesterday in Rafael Benitez’s first league game in charge as the Partenopei went top of the early Serie A table.

Champions Juventus had kick-started the new season with a 1-0 away win at Sampdoria on Saturday when AC Milan, who finished third last season, were stunned 2-1 by a Luca Toni brace away at promoted Verona.

However, a first-half opener from Jose Callejon and a brace from Slovakian forward Marek Hamsik sealed the points for the hosts in Naples, as they went top ahead of Inter Milan and Roma.

Napoli underwent major changes in the close season with the league’s top scorer, Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, moving to Paris Saint-Germain and coach Walter Mazzarri moving to Inter.

Former Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain, brought in by Benitez as a direct replacement, made his league debut at the San Paolo, but failed to hit the net as Hamsik stole the show with a scintillating performance.

Earlier yeterday, Inter, whose 2012-2013 campaign ended in a catastrophic ninth-place finish, got off to a winning start with second-half goals from Yuto Nagatomo and Rodrigo Palacio securing a deserved 2-0 win over Genoa to get Mazzarri’s reign as coach off to a positive start.

Prior to this game Inter had won only once in their last eight games

Elsewhere, Cup holders Lazio, thrashed 4-0 by Juventus in the Italian Super Cup last week, made amends with a 2-1 home win over Udinese.

Hernanes opened the scoring for Vladimir Petkovic’s side in the 13th minute, with Antonio Candreva adding Lazio’s second from the penalty spot three minutes later.

Udinese reduced the arrears on the hour thanks to substitute Luis Muriel, and the northerners, who finished fifth last term to secure a Europa League spot, pushed their hosts all the way before conceding defeat.