25 August 2025
Belgian legend Kevin De Bruyne made a strong impact on his Napoli debut, scoring a goal in his team's 2-0 victory over Sassuolo in the opening match of the new Serie A season. De Bruyne, who joined Napoli on a free transfer, after his contract with Manchester City expired last June scored Napoli's second goal from a free kick in the 57th minute.
The veteran Belgian international's goal came after Napoli had taken the lead through Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay, who opened the scoring in the 17th minute.
At 34 years and 56 days, De Bruyne became the oldest player to appear in a competitive match for Napoli since the 1994-95 season.
Last season's champions, Napoli, put in a strong performance against Sassuolo, imposing clear control over the game, dominating possession, and creating numerous attacking opportunities. The home side were limited to scattered attempts that posed no real threat to the visitors' goal.
The match witnessed a red card for Canadian Ismaël Kone in the 79th minute, leaving Sassuolo to play the remaining minutes with a man down, without a change in the score.
With this victory, Napoli has made a strong start to its title defense, while De Bruyne seeks to write a new chapter in his triumphant career in Italy, establishing himself as one of the team's most prominent stars and technical leaders at this stage.
