Parma began their 2026-27 season with a 2-0 Coppa Italia victory over Catania, as 18-year-old Simone Lontani marked his first senior appearance with a sensational brace.
The former Milan academy player produced two excellent finishes in the First Round to send Parma through, while Cagliari also advanced after a narrow 1-0 win against Arezzo.
Parma will face either Cremonese or Sampdoria in the Second Round. Cagliari will meet either Verona or Virtus Entella.
These were the opening fixtures of the new Italian football season, following a short preliminary round involving Serie C teams.
Lontani, an Italy Under-19 international, was handed his professional debut after joining Parma as a free agent in July. He had previously developed through Milan’s youth system before making the move to the Ducali.
His first goal arrived after 19 minutes at the Stadio Tardini. The teenager reacted quickest to a knocked-down corner and cleverly flicked the ball into the net with the outside of his boot.
He doubled Parma’s advantage before the interval, connecting with El Bilal Toure’s cross at the far post and finishing with an accomplished scissor-kick volley.
The two goals were enough to secure victory for Parma and turned Lontani into the standout player of the opening night of the competition.
Cagliari needed considerably more patience to overcome Arezzo in the other First Round tie. The Sardinian side struggled to find a way through from open play and eventually progressed through a penalty.
They were also unfortunate not to score earlier, hitting the post twice. Yael Trepy struck the upright before Alessandro Deiola did the same.
Cagliari were awarded their decisive penalty after Rodriguez was brought down. Deiola took responsibility, but his first attempt was saved by Nunziante.
The spot-kick was ordered to be retaken because of encroachment, allowing Deiola another opportunity. He made no mistake at the second attempt to put Cagliari ahead.
Arezzo were later awarded a penalty after Ze Pedro was judged to have fouled a Cagliari player. However, the decision was overturned following a VAR review, which showed that Sala had kicked the Cagliari player.
The result ensured Cagliari progressed, despite an evening in which they had to withstand pressure and rely on a set-piece opportunity to break the deadlock. Parma, by contrast, secured a more emphatic success, with Lontani’s immediate impact providing the defining moment of the night.
