MANTOVA, Italy (March 17, 2026) (Interstat) — Mantova opened its Serie B campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Cesena on Tuesday at Stadio Danilo Martelli.

Substitute Giovanni Zaro opened the scoring just six minutes into the match. Defender Andrea Meroni doubled the lead in the 57th minute before Leonardo Mancuso sealed the win in stoppage time. The result defied a pregame projection that forecast a 1-1 draw.

Cesena, which saw four players booked, was held without a goal. Mantova’s win was fueled by assists from substitutes Andrea Ciofi, Matteo Guidi and Matteo Piacentini, along with midfielder Simone Trimboli. The victory gives Mantova a perfect start to the season across all competitions.