Serie A Kickoff: Napoli Soars with De Bruyne, Milan Collapses at San Siro

The first matchday of Serie A 2025-26 instantly revealed a stark and dramatic contrast in the ambitions of two leading contenders.

While Napoli, amid a storm of injuries, still demonstrated the class of the defending champions by beating Sassuolo 2-0, AC Milan started their new chapter with a worrying downfall at home, raising significant concerns.

Napoli Shines Alongside De Bruyne

Napoli entered the new season facing a huge question mark upfront following Romelu Lukaku’s long-term injury. In the match against Sassuolo, those concerns partly materialized. Lorenzo Lucca, trusted with the striker role, had a lackluster and almost ineffective performance. He appeared isolated and disconnected from teammates, causing Napoli’s attacks to lack a clear target. Yet, in this difficult situation, the champions’ quality emerged, proving they didn’t need Lukaku to begin their title defense journey.

The first spark was ignited by none other than Scott McTominay. Last season’s Serie A best player quickly showed he’s no one-season wonder. In the 17th minute, after a well-organized attack, he entered the box and headed the ball into the net from Matteo Politano’s assist, scoring the opening goal of the new Serie A season. McTominay remained a destructive force from midfield, a "forward" exactly as Coach Conte described, and a reliable presence whenever the team needed him.

If McTominay paved the way, Kevin De Bruyne was the one to seal the game and deliver a performance worthy of expectations. From the first seconds, the Belgian midfielder showed he didn’t come to Serie A to slow down, with a shot that narrowly missed the target just 20 seconds after kickoff. By the 57th minute, he had impressed everyone at Mapei Stadium. From a free-kick near the left sideline, De Bruyne executed a masterful and skillful shot, sending the ball into the "hesitation corridor"—where it flew straight into the net untouched, leaving goalkeeper Turati helpless.

That goal, bearing De Bruyne’s signature, will be a new attacking option and a scoring formula Napoli has added to their arsenal. But his impact went beyond just scoring. De Bruyne roamed all over the pitch, taking on multiple roles—from central midfielder, playmaker, to a "false nine" in the final minutes. As Coach Conte and captain Di Lorenzo said, he’s the kind of player who "makes those around him better." De Bruyne’s debut turned a potentially risky match into a statement of strength, showing Napoli’s depth and quality to overcome any adversity.