McTominay and De Bruyne inspire Napoli to commanding 2-0 Serie A victory over Sassuolo
Napoli began their Serie A campaign with an impressive 2-0 triumph away to Sassuolo on Saturday, as Scott McTominay's powerful first-half header and Kevin De Bruyne's sublime second-half free-kick secured all three points for the reigning champions. The victory provided the perfect start to what promises to be another challenging title defense for the southern Italian club.
The defending champions faced some pre-season disruption with striker Romelu Lukaku ruled out through injury, forcing coach to deploy Lorenzo Lucca as the solitary attacking threat. Despite the personnel changes, it was the midfield partnership of De Bruyne and McTominay that dictated proceedings from the opening whistle.
De Bruyne, making his competitive debut following his summer transfer, immediately showcased his world-class ability by creating a golden opportunity within the first minute and maintaining his influence throughout the contest. The Belgian maestro's vision and technical prowess added a new dimension to Napoli's attacking play.
McTominay, fresh from his outstanding campaign that earned him last season's league Most Valuable Player award, wasted little time in announcing his presence. The Scottish midfielder rose majestically to meet Matteo Politano's perfectly weighted cross, directing a thunderous header beyond the Sassuolo goalkeeper after just 17 minutes.
"We told ourselves we'd start with this mindset, get the three points on a difficult pitch, and that's what matters most," McTominay told broadcaster DAZN after the match.
Sassuolo, returning to Italy's top flight with renewed ambition, refused to be overawed by their illustrious opponents and mounted several threatening attacks during the opening period. The hosts created enough chances to suggest they will compete effectively at this level, though they found McTominay nearly doubling the advantage when his powerful strike cannoned off the crossbar moments before halftime.
The second period belonged entirely to the visitors, with Napoli demonstrating the clinical edge that separated champions from challengers. Politano came agonizingly close to extending the lead when his effort struck the upright, while Lucca was unable to capitalize on the resulting rebound.
De Bruyne provided the decisive moment after 57 minutes, showcasing his renowned dead-ball expertise by curling a free-kick from an acute angle over the defensive wall and into the far corner. The strike demonstrated why the Belgian is considered one of Europe's premier playmakers.
McTominay was effusive in his praise for his new teammate's impact on the squad's mentality and approach.
"It's an honour to have De Bruyne in the team. I'm the one who has to learn from him, not the other way around," McTominay said.
Sassuolo's challenging return to Serie A was compounded late in the proceedings when Ismael Kone received his marching orders for a second bookable offense following a foul on Lucca, reducing the hosts to ten men for the closing stages.
The comprehensive victory sends an early statement of intent from Napoli as they begin their quest to retain the Serie A crown in what promises to be another fiercely competitive campaign.
SportsLigue