Italy's big guns all shot down on historic day of defeats

Two of the top Serie A coaches are already feeling the pressure after Juventus and Inter Milan lost on a miserable day for some of the traditional greats of Italian soccer.

It was the first time since February 1955 that Juventus, Inter, AC Milan and Roma have lost on the same day in the Italian league.

Promoted Monza probably didn't expect its first-ever Serie A win to come against Juventus but it managed to beat Max Allegri's side 1-0.Juventus played most of the match with 10 men following Angel Di Maria's red card.

Di Maria posted an apology on Instagram.

"I wish to apologize to everyone for that inappropriate reaction I had on the pitch," he wrote. "Having left the team a man down in such a difficult moment of the season made us lose the game.

"It is purely my fault that we lost. I am so very sorry. I am a professional, but also a human being who makes mistakes and can recognize them."

Simone Inzaghi is also under pressure after his Inter side was earlier beaten 3-1 at Udinese, for its third league loss of the season in seven rounds.

Napoli remained top of Serie A after inflicting a first defeat of the season on defending champion Milan. Napoli won 2-1 and is one of the two remaining unbeaten teams along with Atalanta, which won 1-0 at Roma.

Allegri was already under pressure after Juventus lost its second straight Champions League match last week. It was unbeaten in Serie A but had only won two of its opening six matches.

The Bianconeri were perhaps expecting an easier match at Monza, which was winless and had conceded 14 goals in its six games.

However, Juve had barely a sight of goal and its chances of getting a morale-boosting win diminished when Di Maria was sent off in the 40th minute for needlessly elbowing Monza defender Armando Izzo forcefully in the chest.

And the home fans went wild in the 74th when Patrick Ciurria whipped in a cross from the right and Christian Lund Gytkjaer volleyed in at the near post.

Monza is owned by former Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi.

Title statement

Napoli announced its bid for the Serie A title with Sunday's 2-1 win at Milan which maintained its league lead.

A Matteo Politano penalty, won by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 10 minutes after the break and a Giovanni Simeone header with 12 minutes left gave Napoli a statement win at the San Siro, one managed without injured star striker Victor Osimhen and suspended coach Luciano Spalletti not on the bench.

Napoli sits top of the pile on goal difference from Atalanta and a point ahead of Udinese.

It is also three points ahead of champion Milan, who drops to fifth after its first defeat of the season.

"This is not just about quality, this is a determined team which is capable of sacrifice," said substitute Simeone to DAZN.

"All this team wants to do is to give its all and get better day by day."

Simeone's first Serie A goal for Napoli ended a 22-match unbeaten run for Milan, who leveled in the 69th minute through Olivier Giroud and was unlucky to lose after hitting the woodwork late on through Pierre Kalulu.

However, the absence of suspended star man Rafael Leao and some smart saves from Alex Meret, who tipped one early Giroud effort off the crossbar, cost Milan at least a draw.

"I am not happy at all and neither should my players be. We only scored one goal and that isn't enough for the chances that we created," Pioli told DAZN.

"I hope we learn to be more clinical in front of goal because we did everything right except for the mistakes we made in both penalty areas."

Atalanta keeps pace

Atalanta is level with Napoli after Giorgio Scalvini's beautifully hit low strike 10 minutes before the break at the Stadio Olimpico earned it the three points.

The 18-year-old's winner was the only shot on target from Gian Piero Gasperini's side who has developed a mean streak this season, conceding only three times in seven matches.

Roma, who lost Paulo Dybala to injury in the prematch warm-up and was wasteful in front of goal, was livid 10 minutes after the break when referee Daniele Chiffi did not award the host a penalty for Caleb Okoli yanking at Nicolo Zaniolo's shorts to the point that his underwear was visible.

"I need to change what I tell my players, I have to tell them to not stay on their feet ... be a clown like many who dive like they're in a swimming pool do in this league," raging Roma manager Jose Mourinho told DAZN after being sent off for his protests.

Agencies