Gaetano Castrovilli has scored the first goal of the Italian Serie A season to give Fiorentina a 1-0 win over Torino as a partial reopening of stadiums was announced by the Italian government.
Castrovilli turned in Federico Chiesa's cross from the right on 78 minutes as La Viola stepped up the tempo after an evenly balanced first half in hot and humid conditions at the empty Artemio Franchi stadium on Saturday.
"This Fiorentina is stronger than last year," La Viola president Rocco Commisso said of a side that finished 10th last term.
"We must do better than last season."
No fans were present at because of the coronavirus pandemic but up to 1000 fans will be allowed into stadiums for Serie A matches from Sunday.
The Italian government agreed to open up the stadiums to a limited number of fans after a meeting between the health and sports ministers and other politicians on Saturday.
Roma drew 0-0 at Hellas Verona in their first match under new ownership as both sides rattled the woodwork.
The Friedkin Group took control of Roma last month from American James Pallotta.
Both sides enjoyed chances and Verona hit the crossbar in each half through Adrien Tameze and Federico Dimarco.
Leonardo Spinazzola also saw an effort crash off the bar for Roma.
Roma striker Edin Dzeko, who remains a source of transfer speculation amid reports that he could be headed to Juventus, was kept on the bench while Pedro made his debut after his move from Chelsea.
"It's been a difficult weak for Dzeko," coach Paulo Fonseca said.
"I took the decision for him not to play and I did it mainly for his own good.
"It's obvious that in a normal situation Dzeko would have played."
Bosnian Dzeko has been Roma's leading scorer for the past four seasons.
Despiute the result, Fonseca was pleased with Roma's first-half performance and impressed with Henrikh Mkhitaryan's effort as a false nine.
"We played really well in the first half and missed four or five scoring chances," he said.
"I liked Mkhitaryan's performance as a false nine but we will need another forward and are working on that."
Australian Associated Press
