Napoli, the defending Serie A champions, suffered a heavy defeat in the UEFA Champions League earlier in the week. However, they bounced back on Saturday with a 3–1 home victory over Inter Milan in Round 8 of the Serie A, temporarily moving to the top of the league table.
But the joy was overshadowed by an injury to veteran midfielder Kevin De Bruyne in the first half, which dampened the atmosphere at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Pre-match Context: Clash for the Top Spot
Before kickoff, both Napoli and Inter had recorded five wins and two losses, with 15 points each, sitting second and third in the standings. The winner of this match would move to the top of the table.
De Bruyne Scores, Then Limps Off in Tears
In the 34th minute, Giovanni Di Lorenzo earned a penalty for Napoli, which De Bruyne calmly converted to give his team the lead. Just as he opened his arms to celebrate, he suddenly clutched the back of his thigh with a pained expression.
The 34-year-old limped off the pitch and, after a quick medical assessment, was suspected to have suffered a hamstring injury. Visibly emotional, De Bruyne was in tears as teammates consoled him. He was then helped off the field, ending his night early.
This was De Bruyne’s first injury since joining Napoli in the summer. It was also not the first time he’s been forced off against Inter; he previously left injured twice while playing for Manchester City, including during the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League final, when City won 1–0.
Clinical Napoli Seals the Win
Since joining Napoli, De Bruyne has been in excellent form, with four goals and two assists in 11 appearances across all competitions. His injury is especially concerning as the team has already lost two key forwards, Rasmus Højlund and Romelu Lukaku, which could complicate their title defence.
In the 54th minute, Scott McTominay fired in to double the lead. Six minutes later, Inter were awarded a penalty after Alessio Buongiorno handled the ball in the box. Hakan Çalhanoğlu converted to make it 2–1. But in the 67th minute, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa scored Napoli’s third, sealing the 3–1 victory.
Inter Unlucky, Napoli Maintain Home Dominance
Inter controlled 57% of possession, attempted 15 shots, hit the target three times, and struck the woodwork twice. Despite the stats, they lacked the finishing touch. Napoli, meanwhile, displayed impressive efficiency.
Under Antonio Conte, the team has collected 100 points from 46 Serie A matches and has now won their opening four home games for the second straight season.
Elsewhere in Serie A
Udinese beat Lecce 3–2 at home, moving level on 12 points with Juventus and Atalanta. Atalanta drew 1–1 away to Cremonese to stay unbeaten, while Parma were held to a draw by Como at home.
With this win, Napoli climb to the top of the Serie A table and continue their impressive home form. However, De Bruyne’s injury casts a shadow over the victory.
Whether the team can maintain their momentum and cope with his absence will likely define the rest of their season.
