The new Serie A season opened under the floodlights of the MAPEI Stadium, and for Sassuolo it was meant to be a celebration of return.
Instead, it was a harsh reminder of the gulf between dreams and reality. Against Antonio Conte’s Napoli, the reigning champions, Fabio Grosso’s side discovered the brutal truth of top-flight football: one mistake, one lapse of concentration, and the game is gone.
For Napoli, though, it was everything they wanted. A clean 2–0 victory, a strong message to the league, and a debut goal from their marquee signing, Kevin De Bruyne, the man brought in to elevate them from champions to dynasty builders. Alongside him, Scott McTominay, last season’s Serie A Player of the Year, proved once again that his rise is no anomaly.
First Slice: McTominay Picks Up Where He Left Off
Seventeen minutes in, the story was already familiar. Matteo Politano swung in a cross, McTominay surged into the box, and the net bulged from a thumping header. It was the kind of action that has become Napoli’s signature under Conte: wide play feeding a midfield runner.
“Copy and paste,” some called it, echoing the countless goals of last season. McTominay doesn’t care. For him, repetition is mastery. “It’s what I wanted in preparation,” he said afterwards. “To return with the same intensity of last season.”
He nearly doubled his tally just before half-time, crashing a header off the bar. The Scottish midfielder looked sharper than ever, running the game with energy and authority.
The Gourmet Touch: De Bruyne’s Debut Strike
If McTominay was the bread and butter, Kevin De Bruyne was the flourish. On his Serie A debut, the 34-year-old Belgian showed exactly why Napoli fought to bring him from Manchester City.
In the 57th minute, he stood over a free-kick on the right flank, seemingly too tight to shoot. Instead, he bent the ball wickedly over the crowded box and into the far corner. His first Italian goal, and one that drew gasps even from the Sassuolo faithful.
Conte called him “a spectacle, of another level.” De Bruyne, ever the pragmatist, shrugged it off: “I am very happy for the goal, but more for the importance of starting with success. Italy is a different game than the Premier League — I have to help the team more than my teammates help me.”
It was the oldest Serie A debut goal for a Napoli outfield player in three decades. And yet, it felt like the most natural of arrivals.
Conte’s Tactical Balance
The win wasn’t just about moments — it was about structure. Conte lined up Napoli in a 4-1-4-1, with one holding midfielder screening, McTominay and De Bruyne driving forward, and Politano and Kvaratskhelia providing width. The system looked balanced, aggressive, and controlled.
Conte explained:
“The main novelty compared to last year is De Bruyne. We are trying various solutions for the right formula to make Kevin coexist harmoniously with the three midfielders who were fundamental for the Scudetto. This without ever losing balance.”
That word — balance — was the theme of the night. Napoli pressed high when needed, dropped into compact blocks when Sassuolo tried to counter, and managed possession with calm. With 62.3% possession and 13 shots to 7, the champions looked in command throughout.
Sassuolo’s Harsh Lesson
For Sassuolo, this was a reality check. Promotion from Serie B was joyous, but Serie A is ruthless. They battled, they stayed in the contest, and at 1–0 they even threatened to sneak back in. But when Ismaël Koné picked up a second yellow card in the 79th minute, the fight was effectively over.
Manager Fabio Grosso tried to keep the mood positive:
“We remained in the match against a strong and mature team. It was not easy, and we discovered the level of the category. We leave the field with awareness and the ambition to improve.”
Captain Filippo Romagna echoed him:
“It takes a lot of balance in these matches against big teams. We tried to counter a battleship like Napoli. It’s not a negative evening anyway.”
But make no mistake: against Napoli’s speed and precision, Sassuolo were outclassed.
Berardi: Loyal, but Strangled
The talisman of Sassuolo, Domenico Berardi, made his 401st appearance in the Neroverde shirt. Few players embody a club like he does — 122 goals, 78 assists, a career of loyalty. But tonight, he was reduced to scraps. Napoli’s pressing choked him out of the game, cutting supply lines and forcing him wide.
When Berardi plays, Sassuolo have hope. When he is neutralised, as he was here, they look blunt.
Napoli Match: Breaking the Curse of Opening Day
The subtext of the night mattered almost as much as the result. Last season, Napoli had opened their campaign with a 0–3 collapse against Hellas Verona. Conte had never forgotten it. This time, he demanded intensity from the first whistle, and Napoli delivered.
“We started with the right mentality,” Conte said. “We immediately made clear the imprint we wanted to give. We have a Scudetto on our shirts — for us, it must be a great motivation.”
It was not just three points, but a statement. Napoli are not resting on last season’s triumph. They are hunting another.
The control was clear. Napoli’s midfield, anchored by McTominay, gave little away. Sassuolo’s chances were limited to long shots and half-breaks.
Historical Echoes
The date — August 23 — carries ghosts. Exactly ten years ago, Sassuolo stunned Napoli 2–1 in Reggio Emilia. Since then, Napoli have dominated the matchup, winning their last five league meetings with a combined score of 20–2.
This win stretched that run. Napoli once again showed that when they face Sassuolo, the pattern is clear: too much quality, too much pace, too much bite.
This was not Napoli at their most dazzling. They missed chances. They hit the woodwork twice. There were periods where they eased off. But it was still authoritative, still controlled, still enough to brush Sassuolo aside without breaking stride.
For Conte, that is exactly what matters. The season is long, the challenges many. But start with steel, start with control, and the Scudetto defence is already on solid ground.
For Sassuolo, the message was just as sharp: welcome back to Serie A.
doragon sports 