Napoli got their Serie A-title defense while Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne led the side of Antonio Conte to a 2-0 win over Sassuolo.
2025/2026 Series A
0-2
- McTominay (17 ')
- De Bruyne (57 ')
Match report
McTominay, last season's MVP in the top flight, led Napoli early before De Bruyne marked his series A debut with a free kick after the break.
Napoli wasted no time, with De Bruyne registering a shot with just 26 seconds on the clock, but their dominance was quickly rewarded in the 17th minute.
Matteo Politano was given the time on the right to deliver an inch perfect cross on the head of McTominay, who broke his efforts in Stefano Turati's Near Post.
The Scotland International came close to the counting of his and Napoli before the break, with the degraded drive of Politano who hit the post in the second half.
But the second from Napoli came to De Bruyne, with his free kick from the left who avoided the head of McTominay, but in the 57th minute in the corner on the right.
The misery of Sassuolo was exacerbated 11 minutes from time when the summer signed Ismael Kone received a second yellow card for a bad challenge on Lorenzo Lucca.
KDB with the second!
Kevin waves a free kick that goes over everyone and sneaks in the distant mail! #Sassuolonapoli 0-2 pic.twitter.com/xe1pobkl9h
– Official SSC Napoli (@en_scnapoli) August 23, 2025
Data Debrief: The loss of Manchester is Napoli's profit
De Bruyne had already written history before the game and became the oldest outfield player to make his debut for Napoli, since 1994-95, at 34 years and 56 days, and his performance in the field showed his experience.
Indeed, the Belgian became the third midfielder who scored on his debut for Napoli in Serie A in the era of three points per win (since 1994-95), after Jonathan de Guzman (against Genoa in August 2014) and Francesco Moriero (against Bologna in October 2000).
He also had the most common shots in the competition (three), in addition to Mctominay and Politano, while he also created the most chances for his team (three), but the striking performer of Napoli of last season just had to have his say.
McTominay recovered more often than all his teammates (seven), and won most mistakes in the middle of the park (six). He was also successful in eight of his 15 duels, with only Amir Rrahmani (10) who won more.
Match -Events
0 'The game is about to start!
13 'Match event for Sassuolo vs Napoli
17 'goal! Sassuolo 0-1 Napoli (Scott Mctominay)
42 'Match event for Sassuolo vs Napoli
46 'Highlight of Sassuolo vs Napoli
55 'Match event for Sassuolo vs Napoli
57 'What a goal! KDB Nets on his Serie A debut of a free kick! Sassuolo 0-2 Napoli
79 'Red card! Lorenzo Lucca sent
Line-ups
Sassuolo XI: Berardi, Romagna, Pinamonti, Armand Laurienté, Daniel Boloca, Sebastian Walukiewicz, Stefano Turati, Josh Doig, Tarik Muharemović, Ismaël Koné, Luca Lipani
Subs: N.Pierini, Giacomo Satalino, Arijanet Murić, Fali Candé, Samual Mulattieri, Jay Idzes, Andrea Ghion, Gioele Zacchi, Alieu Fadera, AgustÃn álvarez, Edoardo Pieragolo, Filpato, Cristiano, Filippo, Filippo, Filippo, Filippo Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori, Luca Moro Missori.
Napoli XI: De Bruyne, Juan, Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, Politano, Rrahmani, Meret, Anguisissa, M.Olivera, Mctominay, Lorenzo Lucca
Subs: Spinazola, Nikita Contini, Vanja Milinković-Savić, Pasquale Mazzocchi, Neres, BuongiNo, Lang, Sam Beukema, Alessandro Zanoli, Gilmour, Walid Cheddira, Luis Hasa, Luiuseppe Vergaria, Lucaa, Lucaa, Am Ambrosino, Lucaa, Am Ambrosino, Lucaa, Am Ambrosino, Lucaa, Am Ambrosino, Am Ambrosino, Am Ambrosino, Am Ambrosino, Am Ambrosino, Am Ambrosino, Am Ambrosino, Am Ambrosino. Marianucci, Luca Marianucci, Luca Marianucci, Luca Marianucci, Luca Marianucci, Luca Marianucci, Luca Marianucci, Luca Marianucci, Luca Marianucci, Luca Marianucci, Luca Marianucc