Manchester City showcased their dominance with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Napoli in their UEFA Champions League opener at the Etihad Stadium. The Italian team struggled after Giovanni Di Lorenzo received a red card midway through the first half, paving the way for Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku to score in the second half, culminating in a one-sided match.
This game was anticipated as Kevin De Bruyne’s heartfelt return after his summer departure, with the home crowd honoring him with banners and applause. However, Di Lorenzo’s red card necessitated a quick substitution that altered the match’s dynamics.
The Napoli captain’s dismissal required a VAR review, affirming that he had failed to touch the ball, instead tripping Haaland as he advanced. As a result, De Bruyne’s return was cut short. Napoli’s manager, Antonio Conte, faced a daunting task of defending fiercely, and his players displayed commendable resilience, with goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic making several outstanding saves to keep the score level at halftime.
Manchester City dominated the first half with 16 shots, and it was only a matter of time before they scored. Phil Foden’s precision pass found Haaland, who netted a brilliant header, marking his 50th Champions League goal in just 49 appearances—the fastest record ever. Doku quickly added a second goal, further establishing City’s attacking prowess as they prepared for their upcoming match against Arsenal.
Guardiola: Different Feelings for Man City
Pep Guardiola, Man City manager, stated on TNT:
“We began better than last season’s Champions League final match. While having the advantage of a man up was helpful, we managed to maintain our composure and delivered a solid performance against a formidable opponent. We’ve built good momentum leading into a challenging match against Arsenal on Sunday.”
Haaland Sets Champions League Record
Haaland’s record now stands at 50 goals in 49 matches, needing 13 fewer appearances than Ruud van Nistelrooy. Across all competitions, he has scored 130 goals for Manchester City in 151 matches, highlighting his recent form with an impressive 12 goals in seven outings this season.
Conte: Substitution of De Bruyne Was Necessary
Antonio Conte, Napoli’s coach, commented on TNT:
“Playing against Manchester City is already challenging, and facing them with 10 men made it nearly impossible. Defensively, we were solid, but I believe we could have handled the two goals better. If we had 11 players, the outcome might have been different.” He added about De Bruyne’s early exit: “That was the only option I had. I regretted it for him, given it was against his former club.”
Despite disappointment over De Bruyne’s limited impact, City fans enjoyed themselves, particularly during Napoli’s Rasmus Hojlund’s challenging game as he struggled to make an impression. Hojlund, while starting strong with Napoli, could not replicate his earlier success in what turned out to be a dominant evening for Manchester City.
