The Azzurri Partner Cup has come around again, with 28 teams representing the companies that support the Italian National Football Teams.

The teams took to the field this morning in the warm sunshine for the opening matches: RE/Max vs Panini, Came vs Di Marco, Ali Lavoro vs Fonzies, Football University vs TeamSystem, Tim vs Corriere dello Sport, and Esselunga vs Peroni.

Passes collected, welcome photos taken and warm-ups over, it was time to get down to business. Some players went for a direct shot-on-goal at kickoff, others took a more tactical approach, focusing on possession. Updates came in thick and fast from the three pitches, each divided into two seven-a-side pitches. The first goal came from Field 2, the ‘Enzo Bearzot’ pitch, when Massimo Ganci curled a left-footed shot into the far corner. Ali Lavoro took the lead against Fonzies.

For Ganci, now Ali Lavoro’s sales representative for the Marche region, being back at Coverciano is a welcome return. He made his Serie A debut with Reggina in 2004. 'Last year,' he noted, 'I also completed the UEFA A coaching course here. It’s great to be back today; the tournament is perfectly organized.”