[Coppa Italia] Lower league sides open Coppa

The 61st edition of the Coppa Italia kicked off at the weekend with 36 Lower league clubs looking to reach the second round of the 2008-09 tournament.

In previous years, the number of teams participating was reduced to only the 42 teams from the top two tiers of Italian football. This year, that number was expanded to 78 with the addition of 18 clubs from Lega Pro Prima Divisione (formerly Serie C1), 9 clubs from Lega Pro Seconda Divisione (formerly Serie C2) and 9 clubs from Serie D.

Also, except for the semi-finals, all rounds are played over one match. The Final will again be a one-off match at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on May 13, 2009.

The first batch of Serie A clubs enter the fray in the third round on August 23, while the top seeds open their cup campaign in the fifth round in November and December.

The second preliminary round takes place next weekend on August 16 and 17 and this is where all of the Serie B teams open their Cup quest.

Round 1 Results
Saturday 9 August
Gallipoli 3-2 Bacoli Sibilla
Ravenna 5-1 Castellarano
Monza 1-1 Celano AET (Pens: 4-3)
Perugia 1-0 Lumezzane
Mezzocorona 0-2 Pescara
Sorrento 3-1 Castelsardo
Legnano 1-3 Benevento
Pro Sesto 2-0 Tritium
Foligno 3-2 Pergocrema
Crotone 2-0 Renato Curi Angolana
Novara 3-1 Real Marcianise
Cesena 3-1 Chioggia
Foggia 0-2 Barletta
Cremonese 1-0 Reggiana *
Arezzo 1-4 Portogruaro
Padova 8-0 Pontedera
Sunday 10 August
Cavese 3-1 Biellese
Taranto 1-2 Bassano Virtus

Round 2 Draw
Saturday 16 August
Bari v Bassano Virtus
Albinoleffe v Pescara
Parma v Portogruaro
Sunday 17 August
Mantova v Gallipoli
Rimini v Ravenna
Vicenza v Monza
Ascoli v Perugia
Pisa v Cittadella
Empoli v Ancona
Grosseto v Cavese
Triestina v Sorrento
Treviso v Benevento
Pro Sesto v Modena
Brescia v Foligno
Frosinone v Crotone
Livorno v Novara
Salernitana v Cesena
Barletta v Sassuolo
Piacenza v Padova
Wednesday 20 August
Avellino v Reggiana *

* Cremonese have been kicked out of the Coppa Italia after fielding an ineligible player in the Round 1 win against Reggiana. Its Reggiana who will now be given a spot in Round 2 against Avellino.

[Coppa Italia 2008-09 Draw]