Napoli got their title-defending Serie A campaign off to a perfect start, beating Sassuolo 2-0 at the Mapei Stadium in round one. The Partenopei swept the top-flight newcomers aside en route to winning a sixth consecutive meeting between the sides.

Napoli dominated proceedings from the get-go but found clear-cut chances hard to come by. Despite boasting over 60% possession in the opening 45 minutes, Antonio Conte’s side created only one scoring opportunity. More importantly, they seized it.

Matteo Politano teed up Scott McTominay for the goal. Last season’s Serie A MVP headed the ball past Sassuolo goalkeeper Stefano Turati to put Napoli in front. Poetically, the man who inspired the Partenopei to their fourth Scudetto opened Napoli’s Serie A account this season.

However, after McTominay’s 17th-minute opener, Napoli focused more on maintaining possession than putting daylight between the sides. Meanwhile, Sassuolo seemed unable to find a way to break down their visitors’ defensive set-up.

The visitors came agonizingly close to making it 2-0 at the start of the second half, yet the post kept Politano at bay. Only a few minutes later, marquee summer signing Kevin De Bruyne scored in his Serie A debut, slotting home a stunning free-kick.

There was never a way back for Sassuolo, even before Ismael Kone’s expulsion late in the second half, which only sealed the home side’s fate. Despite going a man up, Napoli didn’t do anything noteworthy in the final third for the rest of the match.

Without further ado, let’s look at our Napoli player ratings.

Napoli (4-2-3-1)

Alex Meret – 6/10

Untested for most of the game, the Italian keeper only had to make one routine save toward the end of the first half. Got away with a wobbly stop shortly after De Bruyne’s masterpiece.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo – 6/10

Defensively rock solid against last season’s Serie B top scorer, Armand Lauriente, Di Lorenzo didn’t put his foot wrong. Yet, his defensive-oriented approach took its toll on his attacking output.

Amir Rrahmani – 8/10

Unfazed by Andrea Pinamonti’s attacking presence, the Kosovo international fared outstandingly at the heart of Napoli’s backline, further cementing his first-team status.

Juan Jesus – 7/10

Equally reliable, the Brazilian center-back held up his end of the bargain, keeping Sassuolo’s forwards at bay with composure and strong positioning.

Mathias Olivera – 6/10

Domenico Berardi used to be one of the best wingers in Serie A. However, injuries and Sassuolo’s relegation derailed his rhythm, allowing the Uruguayan left-back to contain him with relative ease.

Stanislav Lobotka – 6/10

Calm and collected in possession, the diminutive midfielder dictated the tempo with his signature movement in the middle of the park and sharp passing.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa – 7/10

With others taking the creative responsibility, the Cameroonian had the freedom to focus on breaking up play and covering ground. That’s where he excelled.

Scott McTominay – 9/10

The former Manchester United star picked up where he left off last season, showcasing his talismanic influence in front of goal. He nearly doubled his tally late in the first half, only for the crossbar to deny him another Serie A brace.

Kevin De Bruyne – 8/10

There was no flashy moment from the Belgian wizard in the first half, but he demonstrated his class after the break with a well-taken free-kick to put the game beyond Sassuolo’s reach.

Matteo Politano – 7/10

Following an energetic start to the game and an early assist for McTominay, the left-footed winger dropped off as the match wore on. Nearly scored one himself, but the woodwork denied him.

Lorenzo Lucca – 5/10

The towering striker picked up a needless yellow card following a frustrating first half where he often cut an isolated figure.

Substitutes

David Neres – 5/10

Billy Gilmour – 5/10

Noa Lang – N/A

Leonardo Spinazzola – N/A

Antonio Vergara – N/A