Defending champions Napoli secured a confident 3-1 victory over Fiorentina, showcasing their strong form early in the season. New signing Rasmus Højlund made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut, helping his team maintain a perfect winning record. For Fiorentina, it was a difficult evening that ended their unbeaten start to the campaign.
The win extends Napoli’s impressive away record against Fiorentina to eight games without a loss. From the start, Napoli appeared focused and in control, quickly building a lead that Fiorentina struggled to overcome. This result sends a clear message that Napoli is serious about defending their Serie A title.
⚽️ Napoli Takes Control Early
Napoli wasted no time in taking charge of the match. They were awarded an early penalty when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was brought down in the box by a clumsy challenge from Pietro Comuzzo. Kevin De Bruyne stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, sending goalkeeper David de Gea the wrong way to open the scoring. Soon after, Napoli doubled their lead when a clever pass from Leonardo Spinazzola found Rasmus Højlund, who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner for a memorable debut goal.
🔥 Dominance Before Halftime
Throughout the first half, Napoli’s attack proved too much for the Fiorentina defence. The two goalscorers, Højlund and De Bruyne, almost combined for a third goal before the break. Højlund showed great skill inside the penalty area before setting up De Bruyne, whose powerful shot was met with a brilliant one-handed save from De Gea. Fiorentina found it difficult to create chances, leaving them with a major challenge heading into the second half.
✅ Third Goal Secures the Win
Any hopes of a Fiorentina comeback were quickly dashed just 10 minutes after halftime. Following a corner, Fiorentina failed to clear the ball properly. Anguissa kept the play alive and sent a low pass across the goal, where Sam Beukema was waiting to tap it into an empty net. With a comfortable 3-0 lead, Napoli continued to press forward. Scott McTominay had a good chance to score a fourth, but his shot was saved easily, which was one of the few less-than-perfect moments for the visiting team.
😌 A Quiet End to the Match
With the game well in hand, Napoli manager Antonio Conte began to rest some of his key players ahead of their midweek Champions League match against Manchester City. This led to a slower pace in the final stages, as both teams seemed content to see out the match. Fiorentina managed to score a late consolation goal through Luca Ranieri, giving their home fans a small moment to cheer on an otherwise disappointing rainy evening. The result marks Fiorentina’s first loss of the season, while Napoli celebrates their third straight win.
