But rivals AC Milan and AS Roma both began with comfortable wins, while Fiorentina and Parma drew 2-2.

Inter took the lead in the 10th minute through Uruguayan striker Alvaro Recoba but Davide Possanzini equalised on the stroke of halftime and Massimo Marazzina grabbed the winner in the 50th minute with a powerful left foot drive.

Inter coach Marcello Lippi, under pressure since the Milan side were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by Sweden's Helsingborg, was furious with his team's performance.

"I am ashamed to have presented a squad that has played in that manner and without heart," said Lippi.

Lazio went ahead at Atalanta after just three minutes when Sinisa Mihajlovic fired in a free-kick from wide on the right which beat ill-positioned Atalanta 'keeper Alberto Fontana.

But Atalanta, showing plenty of spirit and no shortage of ability, drew level in the 21st minute when Lazio defender Giuseppe Pancaro headed a corner into his own net.

Lazio then went behind in the 58th minute as Cristian Zanoni ran through a gaping hole in the Lazio defence and neatly slotted home.

Sven Goran Eriksson brought on Simone Inzaghi for Claudio Lopez in the 67th minute and just six minutes later the Lazio striker had earned his team a point. Pavel Nedved's shot was parried out Fontana and Inzaghi drove home the loose ball. Roma, with Argentine Gabriel Batistuta making his league debut, had a much easier start to the season.

Francesco Totti put Roma ahead with a 27th minute header after a fine cross from Marcos Assuncao. A 67th minute own goal by Bologna defender Marcello Castellini secured the three points for Fabio Capello's side.

AC Milan also made a confident start against newly promoted Vicenza with German Oliver Bierhoff opening the scoring as he rose to head home a cross from Gennaro Gattuso.

Bierhoff, recalled to the Germany squad on Thursday, has been in excellent form in pre-season, scoring in Champions League games against Besiktas and Barcelona.

Ukranian Andriy Shevchenko, last season's top scorer in the Serie A, completed the win with a fine header from a deep Federico Giunti cross.

In the most tightly contested game of the opening round, Parma and Fiorentina drew 2-2.

The result may ease the pressure on Fiorentina's Turkish coach Fatih Terim, who has been under fire after they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Austria's Tirol Innsbruck.

Parma took the lead in the fifth minute through a powerful Marcio Amoroso header but Fiorentina fought back well with a 65th minute goal from Alessandro Pierini.

Cristian Amoroso looked to have given them a winner with an 82nd minute strike.

But Parma drew level with a last minute penalty from Marcio Amoroso, after a foul by Fiorentina defender Tomas Repka, wich saw the Czech dismissed.

Roberto Baggio's league debut for Brescia ended in a 4-2 defeat at Udinese in a game which took place in torrential rain and on a barely playable waterlogged pitch.

Udinese took the lead in the 2nd minute through Roberto Sosa and doubled their advantage in the 58th minute through Iaquinta.

Brescia fought back well and goals from Pierpaolo Bisoli (64) and Aimo Diana (80) drew them level.