In the opening match of the 2025/26 Serie A season, Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne scored on his debut to help defending champion Napoli beat Sassuolo 2-0 away and get off to a flying start.
At the same time, 19-time Serie A champion AC Milan lost 1-2 to Cremonese at home and suffered a bad start.
Napoli Took The Lead, And McTominay scored
Napoli turned the game around and took the lead in the 16th minute. Politano successfully got rid of the defence on the right side of the penalty area and sent a precise cross. McTominay scored with a header, and Napoli led 1-0 in the first half.
In the 57th minute, veteran player De Bruyne took a free kick on the left, and the ball went straight into the goal. This goal not only won him his first Serie A goal but also helped Napoli extend the score to 2-0.
Sassuolo Reduced to 10 Men
Sassuolo suffered a significant blow in the 78th minute when Kone was sent off for a second bookable offence after a tackle on Luca. The home side, already trailing, was forced to play with 10 men and was unable to change the outcome.
De Bruyne said after the match: “It’s really nice to start in this way. “But Serie A is always a bit different and I have to adapt to the team, not the other way around.”
Milan’s Shocking Home Defeat
At the San Siro, AC Milan were unlucky and lost 1-2 to Cremonese, setting a record for the first time in the club’s 126-year history that they lost to their opponents at home in Serie A.
It was also the first time in nearly five years that they had lost in the league opener. Modric’s Serie A debut also ended in defeat.
Milan, who had the initiative in the match, failed to break through the opponent’s goal, but in the 28th minute, Cremonese’s Baschirotto scored with a header, giving the away team a 1-0 lead. Milan scored a goal in the first half stoppage time, and Pavlovic successfully changed the score to 1-1.
Bonazzoli’s volley in the 62nd minute put Cremonese 2-1 up again. Despite Milan’s increased attacking efforts in the game, they failed to score again and lost.
Allegri: This Defeat Could Have Been Avoided
Milan coach Allegri said after the match, “This defeat was unexpected, and it could have been avoided.”
Milan Only Scored One Goal From 24 Shots
AC Milan, whose total value is as high as 480 million euros, had 24 shots in the game, but only scored one goal.
In contrast, Cremonese had only four shots in the whole game, but scored two goals. The key to the victory or defeat of the game lies in the efficiency of seizing opportunities.
The victory was only Cremonese’s second ever at the San Siro against Milan, the last time being on May 10, 1992, when they won 2-0. It was also Cremonese’s first-ever victory in their opening Serie A match, having lost all eight of their previous Serie A openers.
