Manchester City won a crucial 2-0 win over Naples in its first match of Champions’ League 2025-26, thanks to goals from Haaland and Doku. The game, which took place at Etihad Stadium, was marked by the expulsion of Neapolitan captain Di Lorenzo, following a mistake that allowed Haaland to take the pass and be taken in stables. Despite this numerical inferiority, Naples resisted much of the game, but finally succumbed to City’s pressure. The Naples players expressed their disappointment at the outcome of the game, while emphasizing the team spirit and determination they showed, even though they were in numerical inferiority.

Individual performances were mixed at Naples. Milinkovic Savic was one of the most active players, standing out for his many interventions and his ability to deliver solutions in the construction phase. However, Di Lorenzo made a costly mistake, and other players like Beukema made tactical mistakes in the second period. Hello showed good resistance in the first half, but suffered after the expulsion of Di Lorenzo. Other players like Politano have maintained the level, but have been limited by lack of support and fatigue. Di Lorenzo’s expulsion clearly influenced the course of the game, forcing Conte to adjust his strategy and strengthen the defense.

Post-game statements highlighted the difficulty of the match and the quality of the Naples team. The players expressed their pride in team spirit and their determination to fight to the end, despite the difficulties. De Bruyne, although being replaced prematurely, was praised for his professional reaction. Haaland, on the other hand, was recognized as a world-class attacker, but the focus was on Naples’ collective effort to contain City’s possession. City players stressed the difficulty of the game and the importance of victory, while recognizing the quality of the Neapolitan team.