Manchester City cruised to a comfortable win over Napoli in their opening Champions League fixture, with standout performances from Erling Haaland and Jérémy Doku. Haaland, in particular, continued his phenomenal form, netting his 50th Champions League goal in just 49 matches, setting a new record for the competition. The Norwegian striker’s strike was City’s opener and his seventh goal in five matches, reminding everyone of his lethal form reminiscent of City’s treble-winning season in 2022-23.
The game was all City from the start, as Napoli were reduced to 10 men just 21 minutes in when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was shown a red card for a foul on Haaland. This turned the match in City’s favor, but Napoli’s goalkeeper, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, stood firm, pulling off several crucial saves to keep his side in the contest. Despite this, City’s relentless pressure soon paid off. After Haaland’s opener, it was Doku who sealed the deal with a brilliant individual effort, weaving through Napoli’s defense to score a second goal that left defenders in his wake.
City’s dominance was clear throughout, with Pep Guardiola’s side managing 16 shots in the first half alone. Napoli struggled to mount any significant attacks, with Gianluigi Donnarumma hardly tested between the City posts. Even when Reijnders’ free-kick threatened, it was Milinkovic-Savic who denied City with another fine save.
The second half saw City continue to probe for more goals. A brilliant lob from Foden found Haaland, who buried the header into the net to extend City’s lead. Guardiola then took the opportunity to rest key players like Rodri, who had been struggling with a knee issue, as they focused on maintaining their grip on the game.
Doku’s goal encapsulated City’s superiority. The Belgian winger’s dazzling dribble sliced through Napoli’s defense, leaving defenders scrambling as he calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it 3-0. Despite a few more efforts to increase the lead, City were content with their performance as they secured a comfortable win.
In the end, it was a clinical display from Manchester City, showcasing both their attacking potency and defensive solidity. With Haaland and Doku in such fine form, they look set to be a force in Europe this season.
