Lazio new boy Mauro Zarate enjoyed a dream Serie A debut with two second-half goals to set his side on their way to a stunning comeback against 10-man Cagliari on Sunday.
In contrast, it was a nightmare debut for one of Cagliari's few summer signings, goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, on loan from Albinoleffe.
Joaquin Larrivey put the hosts in front on the half-hour mark with only his second goal in Serie A and Cagliari looked like they were going to cruise to victory against a side who had a dire away record last season.
But Lazio looked a different team in the second half and the game turned on its head when Diego Lopez was given his marching orders shortly after the hour mark and Zarate grabbed his first of the day from the spot.
Zarate doubled his tally in the 71st minute before former Cagliari player Pasquale Foggia added insult to injury four minutes later and Goran Pandev grabbed the fourth in the game's final stages.
Lazio won just two of their opening 12 games last season, and the same number out of their 19 away matches, and the Biancoceleste were desperate for a better record this campaign.
But Cagliari had a new coach at the helm - Massimiliano Allegri - who the players were eager to impress and prove they had put the relegation struggles from last season firmly behind them.
The hosts almost got off to the perfect start as Larrivey - who had had a less than impressive debut season in Italy last term - came close to giving them the lead but his effort was straight at Lazio goalkeeper Juan Carrizo.
Cagliari looked dangerous in the opening stages but Lazio began to come into the game and should have taken the lead in the 12th minute when a dangerous-looking Pandev shot was deflected over the bar.
The hosts came close to going in front in the 24th minute but Larrivey headed Jeda's cross against the post.
But the Argentinian got a deserved goal six minutes later as he controlled Andrea Cossu's cross on his chest before firing a diagonal shot across Carrizo and into the back of the net.
Lazio coach Delio Rossi rang the changes in the second half, bringing on Foggia, who had spent last season on loan at Cagliari, to loud whistles from the home crowd.
Zarate - who Lazio president Claudio Lotito believes will be "better than Lionel Messi" - should have levelled the scores 10 minutes after the break but he failed to control a good cross from fellow new boy Stephan Lichtsteiner.
But minutes later Cagliari shot themselves in the foot when Lopez handled Pandev's shot on the line and the veteran defender was immediately red-carded.
Zarate stepped up to the spot to open his account for his new club and added a second 10 minutes later as he took advantage of Cagliari substitute Daniele Magliocchetti's mistake to snatch the ball and lob Marchetti.
The 21-year-old almost nabbed a hat-trick seconds later but he was closed down at the last second by the Cagliari keeper.
The home fans were to feel more aggrieved minutes later, however, as Aleksandar Kolarov raced unchallenged down the left flank before putting in a low cross for Foggia to fire home.
The 25-year-old refused to celebrate his goal but was nevertheless jeered by the Cagliari fans.
A great day for Lazio was complete four minutes from time when Pandev controlled a Foggia cross and fired in a high effort which flew in just under the crossbar.
