However, a heavy-handed and acquisitive French foreign policy soon provoked Austria and Russia, and led to the formation of the Second Coalition.

[3] The next day, fighting occurred along the Adige River between the opposing forces of General of Division Schérer and Feldmarschall-Leutnant Kray.

By 5 April, the two armies confronted each other on a rain-sodden field near the hamlet of Magnano, south of Verona.

Schérer deployed 41,000 soldiers in the divisions of Generals of Division Joseph Hélie Désiré Perruquet de Montrichard, Claude Perrin Victor, Jacques Maurice Hatry, Antoine Guillaume Delmas de la Coste, Jean-Mathieu-Philibert Sérurier, and Paul Grenier.

Jean Victor Marie Moreau led the divisions of Hatry and Montrichard to attack in the center.

Delmas, with the reserve, marched forward to fill the gap that opened between the French right flank and Moreau as the latter moved north.

One historian writes, "Schérer went into this battle without forming a reserve and was thus unable to react to crisis and opportunities effectively.

This attack sent Victor and Grenier reeling back to the south and opened a large gap in the French battle line.