The Italian champions, Napoli, kicked off their title defense today with a confident 2-0 victory over Sassuolo. It was the first matchday of the new season. Fans had plenty to cheer about, especially with a major new face getting right into the action.
The game saw fireworks from both familiar stars and fresh talent. Scott McTominay, who was crowned the Italian League’s best player last season, wasted no time. He found the back of the net in the 17th minute, setting the tone early. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for. Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli’s most talked-about new signing, marked his debut with a goal in the 57th minute. He tucked away a free-kick beautifully, showing exactly why he was brought in. Sassuolo’s day went from bad to worse when Ismael Kone, a Canadian midfielder, was sent off in the 79th minute, leaving them with ten men.
Napoli is aiming for something special this season. They clinched their fourth scudetto last season, which was their second championship in just three years. Now, they’re looking to achieve a first in their history: back-to-back league titles in the 2025/26 campaign. Starting with a win and a goal from a superstar signing certainly builds that momentum.
On the other side of the pitch, Sassuolo has a different kind of fight ahead. They just returned to Serie A this season after spending only one year in Serie B. Before that, they enjoyed a long run of 11 straight seasons in Italy’s top division. This opening match shows they’ll have their work cut out for them to stay there.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the pitch, the day’s other fixture offered a less dramatic start. Lecce traveled to Genoa and played out a goalless draw. Lecce’s starting lineup featured Portuguese players Danilo Veiga and Tiago Gabriel. For Genoa, forward Vitinha made a late appearance, joining the game in the 88th minute.