Milan - Serie A giants Roma and AC Milan are under fire for a poor start to the season that has seen them them lose ground to the other favourites Inter Milan and Juventus.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is said to have had a rather tense meeting with the club management after suffering a second defeat last weekend, a 2-0 away to Genoa, which held his team on zero points after two games and produced the team's worst season start in 22 years.

"There was sincere self-criticism from all parts (of the club)," Ancelotti said. "The moment is very delicate and there is, on the players' side, the will to overcome it. On the club's side there is a very careful and focused attitude."

The coach, who twice won the Champions League in his seven season with the Devils, also admitted to having made some mistakes, which he can redress Thursday in a UEFA Cup game with Zurich and Sunday against Lazio.

There were dark clouds also above Roma, who have a single point in the Serie A and Tuesday opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 defeat at home to Romanian side Cluj.

President Rosella Sensi gave the team a first scolding after the game and had another heated meeting Wednesday to urge the players to show their worth Saturday against guests Reggina.

Fans hanged a curt banner saying "Now it's enough" outside the team's camp, echoing the words of Sensi, who took over from her recently deceased father Franco.

"We can't play this bad. What's going on?" she was quoted as saying. "The Roma I know is something else."

Champions Inter and Juventus, meanwhile, have both four points and were successful in their Champions League debut. The scudetto holders won 2-0 at Panathinaikos, while Juve edged Russian giants Zenit 1-0 in Turin.

On Sunday, Torino welcome the title holders, while Juve are away to Cagliari, lying last with Milan.

Fiorentina welcome Bologna after a convincing 2-2 draw at Lyon in the Champions League marking their long-awaited return in the elite tournament.

Also vying Thursday in the continental arena are Sampdoria against Kaunas, Udinese at Borussia Dortmund and Napoli with Benfica.

Surprise side Atalanta, leading jointly with Lazio on six points, visit Catania Saturday, while in other Sunday action promoted Lecce take on Siena, Palermo host Genoa, Udinese welcome Napoli and Sampdoria, another side from Genoa, entertain Chievo.