Kevin De Bruyne Scores on Napoli Debut as Conte’s Champions Begin Title Defence in Style

Kevin De Bruyne needed less than an hour to announce himself in Italy. The Belgian superstar, Napoli’s record-breaking summer signing, marked his Serie A debut with a stunning free-kick as the defending champions eased to a 2-0 victory over Sassuolo on Saturday night.

De Bruyne’s Magic Moment

With Napoli already leading 1-0 thanks to a 17th-minute header from Scott McTominay, De Bruyne stepped up in the 57th minute to deliver what fans came to see: brilliance.

His curling free-kick, taken from the left, flew untouched into the far corner, leaving Sassuolo’s goalkeeper rooted. The Stadio Città del Tricolore fell silent, while Napoli’s travelling fans erupted.

It was the perfect debut for a player tipped to redefine Napoli’s attacking play this season.

McTominay Still Running the Show

If De Bruyne stole the headlines, McTominay reminded everyone why he is already a fan favorite in Naples. The Scottish midfielder not only opened the scoring with a towering header but also rattled the crossbar with a thunderous strike before half-time.

Under coach Antonio Conte, McTominay looks sharper than ever — and Napoli look like a team determined to defend their crown.

Can Conte Do What Maradona Never Did?

Napoli are chasing history. Even Diego Maradona’s legendary side never managed back-to-back Scudetti in the 1980s. The last time Napoli tried to defend their title, they collapsed to 10th place after Luciano Spalletti’s shock exit.

This time, however, Conte’s stability — and the arrival of De Bruyne — has reignited belief.

Still, Napoli must cope without Romelu Lukaku, sidelined until December with a thigh injury. His replacement, Lorenzo Lucca, endured a quiet debut but will get his chance in coming weeks.

Sassuolo’s Rough Return

Sassuolo, fresh from winning Serie B, struggled badly against the champions and finished the game with 10 men. Debutant Ismael Kone saw red in the 79th minute, capping a tough evening for the hosts.

What’s Next in Serie A

• AC Milan vs Cremonese: Luka Modric makes his much-anticipated Serie A bow today.

• Roma vs Bologna: Gian Piero Gasperini leads Roma into battle with ex-Lazio striker Ciro Immobile ready for his debut.