Braga and Napoli secured impressive away wins in the first leg of their respective Intertoto Cup contests.

Portuguese outfit Braga secured a 2-0 victory over Sivasspor, while Italian side Napoli ground out a 1-0 win against Panionios.

Braga adapted well to their Turkish surroundings as they eased past a side who finished fourth in their domestic division last season.

Austria international Roland Linz gave them the lead on the stroke of half-time, before Brazilian defender Moises ensured that they will take a crucial lead into the return leg next week when he grabbed a second with 12 minutes remaining.

While Braga made light work of difficult opponents, Napoli were pushed all the way by Greek side Panionios.

The Serie A team are expected to book their place in the Uefa Cup for the forthcoming season but will still need a positive result back in Italy next Saturday.

Mariano Bogliacino gave the visitors the lead on the half-hour mark, but Eoardo Reja’s side failed to build on that advantage.

Their efforts were hardly helped by the fact that defender Leandro Rinaudo was given his marching orders on 77 minutes.
Sunday’s first leg results

Sivasspor 0 Braga 2

Panionios 0 Napoli 1

Ref From skysports.com

With the probable failure to land Frank Lampard this summer, Inter are turning their sights to another Premiership player who has some experience in Serie A.

Considering the difficulties in obtaining Frank Lampard, who will take part in Chelsea’s Asian tour, Inter are understandably starting to look at other players for their midfield. Coach Jose Mourinho has apparently indicated a new target to the Inter management: former Udinese player Sulley Muntari.

The Ghanaian spent last season with Portsmouth, who spent 12 million euros to take him away from the Friulani. With just 15 million euros, however, the midfielder could make his return to Serie A with Inter.

Certainly, Muntari does not have the same qualities going forward as Lampard does, as he’s a more defensive player, but he’s known to have a similarly hard long-range shot.

If Inter decide to go for the player the negotiations could be wrapped up quickly thanks to the work of Jorge Mendes, agent of both Muntari and Mourinho, as well as a certain Ricardo Quaresma, who’s also known to be a target for the Nerazzurri…

Ref From Danilo Pochini - goal.com

Fiorentina were held by Serie C side Verona in their second pre-season friendly of the summer with new boy Alberto Gilardino finding the net.

The Viola demolished a local amateur side in their first friendly last week but faced a stiffer test against fallen giants Verona – a side that Cesare Prandelli ruled between 1998 and 2000.

Gilardino made a lively start in Bolzano and nearly found the net after just 160 seconds when he was played in by Manuel Da Costa, but his effort was tipped wide by the goalkeeper.

Minutes later though, Gila did make it 1-0. The former Milan star’s delicate one-two with Azzurrini hitman Pablo Daniel Osvaldo sent him clear to poke home from close range, much to Prandelli’s delight.

Osvaldo nearly doubled the lead in spectacular fashion with an overhead kick that whistled over the bar,

The Viola made four changes at half-time and Giampaolo Pazzini nearly continued his impressive pre-season but his strike was stopped by ‘keeper Francesco Franzese after 48 minutes.

However, Verona fought their way back and striker Matteo Scarpini missed from just six yards as the Tuscans looked a little tired.

And the Mastini did equalise, courtesy of natural defender Alessandro Castellan.

Castellan came on for Antonio Bellavista and made his presence felt by scoring almost immediately when he pounced on some sloppy defending after 71 minutes,

Fiorentina: Avramov; Kroldrup, Dainelli (Mazuch 46), Da Costa, Pasqual; Santana (Semioli 56), Melo (Gobbi 46), Donadel; Osvaldo (Papa Waigo 56), Jovetic (Pazzini 46), Gilardino (Kuzmanovic 46)
Verona: Franzese (Cecchini 75); Campagna, Sibilano, Bergamelli (Conti 62), Moracci (Loseto 67); Garzon (Campisi 53), Bellavista (Castellan 67), Corrent (Parolo 53); Anaclerio (Vriz 62), Girardi (Scarprini 53), Tiboni (Dianda 62)

Ref From channel4.com