Haaland Breaks Record as Manchester City Defeats Napoli 2–0
Manchester City began their UEFA Champions League campaign with a confident 2–0 win over Napoli at the Etihad Stadium. The match carried extra intrigue as Kevin De Bruyne faced his former club for the first time since departing Manchester this summer. The Belgian midfielder, who spent 10 years with City, was unable to influence proceedings in favor of the Italian champions. Instead, Pep Guardiola’s side dominated nearly every aspect of the encounter.
The turning point came when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was sent off in the 21st minute after a reckless foul. Napoli were forced to play with 10 men for nearly 70 minutes against one of Europe’s most possession-heavy teams. From that moment on, City controlled the tempo and forced the visitors deep into their own half. Napoli’s attack was stifled completely, producing just one shot across the entire 90 minutes.
Erling Haaland broke the deadlock in the 56th minute with a finish inside the penalty area. The goal set a new Champions League milestone, as Haaland became the fastest player to reach 40 career goals in the competition. His relentless scoring record continues to emphasize his status as the most prolific striker in European football. Just nine minutes later, Jérémy Doku added City’s second goal to seal the victory. Guardiola’s side registered 23 shots compared to Napoli’s one, while maintaining 74% possession. They also completed over 800 passes with 92% accuracy, leaving their opponents chasing shadows. Napoli managed only 26% possession and earned just two corners in a frustrating outing.
For De Bruyne, the evening was a painful reminder of his old team’s quality. Once the heartbeat of City’s midfield, he found himself isolated as Napoli defended deep with limited attacking support. The Belgian received a polite welcome back but was ultimately overshadowed by City’s relentless display. Instead of a triumphant return, his story ended with defeat at the hands of the club where he built his legend.
Manchester City now sit in control of Group G with momentum on their side. City will need to maintain this same tempo as they prepare for a crucial clash against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. Haaland’s record-breaking strike has already set the tone for another European campaign full of expectation. Guardiola will be pleased with the way his team dismantled a reigning Serie A champion so convincingly. Napoli, meanwhile, must regroup quickly to avoid falling behind in the group stage race.
