The opening match of the 2025-26 season was against Sassuolo, a team that had just been promoted back to Serie A. Sassuolo struggled to find their identity and balance, despite having a strong attacking unit. Napoli took advantage of this uncertainty and quickly set the pace.

The first goal of the season for Napoli was scored by Scott McTominay, the 2024 Serie A Player of the Season. Conte had worked on a new role for him during the summer, using him as a false winger on the opposite side of Matteo Politano. Politano delivered a precise cross from the right, and McTominay met it with a header that the Sassuolo goalkeeper had no chance of saving.

Napoli's early lead split the match in two and created a barrier that Sassuolo struggled to break. The visitors had only one clear chance, a left-footed strike from Domenico Berardi, which went just wide. Beyond that moment, Napoli controlled the tempo, rarely suffering and never taking real risks.

In the late stages of the match, one of Napoli's marquee signings sealed the victory: Kevin De Bruyne, one of the most exciting arrivals in Serie A, struck a venomous free kick that deceived the goalkeeper and nestled into the net. The Belgian, who appeared short of peak fitness during the summer, immediately proved his class as soon as the competitive level rose.

Napoli's next match is their home debut on Saturday evening against Cagliari, who drew 1-1 against Fiorentina thanks to a stoppage-time goal. It will be another opportunity for Napoli to test themselves and claim three points in front of their supporters.

The transfer market has not yet brought dramatic changes to the squad, but Napoli have Conte. With him on the bench, the team can rest easy. Despite the presence of many big names, the real star of this Napoli side is still the coach, a serial winner capable of extracting the maximum from every player he leads.