There were surprises in the Coppa Italia Third Round, as Hellas Verona went out to Cremonese, Empoli taken to extra time, a six-goal Carpi thriller and prolific Frosinone.

Newly-promoted Hellas Verona saw their Coppa Italia campaign grind to a halt at the first hurdle.

Alan Empereur had put the hosts in front at the Bentegodi with a powerful volley on a corner, but deep into stoppages Cremonese equalised through a Michele Castagnetti tap-in following chaotic defending.

SPAL fought back from an early Feralpisaló goal to win 3-1 and will face four-star Lecce in the Coppa Italia Fourth Round, while Sassuolo squeezed past Spezia.

Serie C side Feralpisaló took the lead in the opening 60 seconds of their trip to the Stadio Paolo Mazza, as Maiorino was at the back post to meet a Ceccarelli cross.

Federico Di Francesco equalised immediately thanks to a spectacular volley, then Mattia Valoti finished off a well-worked team move.

Sampdoria completed the comeback from an early goal to win 3-1 away to Crotone, with new buy Gonzalo Maroni immediately on target.

The Blucerchiati will face Cagliari in the Fourth Round of the Coppa Italia in December.

It was Crotone who took the surprise lead just eight minutes in when a long ball over the top allowed Salvatore Molina to spring the offside trap, chest it down and beat Emil Audero.

Fabio Quagliarella’s acrobatic attempt whistled wide, as did an Ahmad Benali free header from Molina’s cross.

Bologna swept Pisa aside 3-0 in the Coppa Italia Third Round with Andrea Poli, Riccardo Orsolini and Rodrigo Palacio.

The Rossoblu will take on Udinese in the next stage of the tournament in December.

As throughout the summer and for the foreseeable future, Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic watched the game via live-streaming from his hospital bed, where he is undergoing treatment for leukaemia.

Marko Rog’s stunner was the stand-out as 10-man Cagliari pushed past Chievo 2-1 and will face Sampdoria or Crotone in the Coppa Italia Fourth Round.

The Sardinians used a star-studded XI at the Sardegna Arena for their first competitive match of the season against recently-relegated Chievo.

Joao Pedro put the hosts in front early doors, as Artur Ionita’s header bounced off the crossbar and into the path of Joao Pedro for the tap-in.

Fiorentina director Daniele Pradè warns “Cristiano Biraghi wants Inter, but there are issues to be sorted out. Franck Ribery is considering his options.”

The Viola fought back from a goal down to beat Monza 3-1 in the Coppa Italia Third Round this evening, but Biraghi was on the bench amid reports of an imminent move to San Siro.

Brescia were leading until the 91^st minute, but were eliminated from the Coppa Italia Third Round in extra time by Perugia.

The 2-1 result means Perugia will go through to face either Sassuolo or Spezia in the Fourth Round in December.

The Rondinelle had reason to celebrate at the Stadio Curi, as it was announced this evening that Mario Balotelli has signed for his hometown club.

Vincenzo Montella hinted teenagers Dusan Vlahovic and Tofol Montiel could appear more, but Fiorentina reinforcements after a Coppa Italia scare.

The Viola were trailing 1-0 at home to Serie C outfit Monza until a late flurry of goals, two of them from 19-year-old substitute Vlahovic on Montiel assists, secured a 3-1 victory.

Dusan Vlahovic came off the bench and bagged a brace before the late Federico Chiesa strike, as Fiorentina fought back to knock Monza out of the Coppa Italia.

It was very hard going, as Vincenzo Montella’s men were trailing for most of the match, but go through to the Fourth Round of the Coppa Italia, where they will face Carpi or Cittadella.

Fiorentina director Giancarlo Antognoni confirms they “could not help but evaluate” an Inter offer for Cristiano Biraghi.

The left-back is left out of the Viola starting XI against Monza in today’s Coppa Italia Third Round match.

“When a club like Inter make an offer for Biraghi, we could not help but evaluate it,” Antognoni told Rai Sport.