Ezequiel Lavezzi of SSC Napoli celbrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AC Cesena and SSC Napoli Saturday. (Mario Carlini/Iguana Press/Getty Images)Napoli beat 10-man Cesena 3-1 Saturday to open Serie A and warm up for its Champions League debut at Manchester City next week.
Napoli's Ezequiel Lavezzi and Cesena's Roberto Guana traded goals in the first half before Hugo Campagnaro and Marek Hamsik scored after Cesena's French defender Yohan Benalouane was sent off for a second yellow card in the 55th minute.
Having finished third last season, Napoli is preparing for its first appearance in the Champions League since the competition was renamed in 1992. Napoli last competed in the old European Cup after Diego Maradona led the southern club to Italian titles in 1987 and 1990.
© The Associated Press, 2011
