How Conte used Hojlund to try and break down Man City | OneFootball

Napoli lost 2-0 to Manchester City in their first Champions League outing of the season in a game that was largely conditioned by Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s early red card, but there was one subtle tactic that Antonio Conte tried to deploy in an attempt to break Pep Guardiola’s side down.

The Partenopei were beaten 2-0 by goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku at The Etihad Stadium on Thursday night in what was Napoli’s first Champions League match after sitting out of the 2024-25 edition, and the first Champions League match managed by Conte in 925 days.

The job was always going to be difficult for Conte and his players after Di Lorenzo’s straight red card just 21 minutes in. The defender’s sending off also led to the substitution of former Man City star Kevin De Bruyne shortly afterwards, with full-back Mathias Olivera coming on to replace him.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Erling Haaland of Manchester City is fouled by Giovanni Di Lorenzo of Napoli resulting in a red card during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

What Conte did with Hojlund to try and beat Man City

With only 10 players on the pitch, and facing a Man City side that is always tough to break down, Conte had one trick up his sleeve while attempting to break down Guardiola’s side.

That was to have centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund stand just in front of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for Napoli goal kicks.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Nico Gonzalez of Manchester City has a headed shot whilst under pressure from Rasmus Hojlund of Napoli during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

As players can not be ruled offside directly from goal kicks, the thinking was that Hojlund would help stretch the Man City defence and create space between them and the midfield.

Unfortunately for Conte and his players, the Hojlund trick was not enough to stop Haaland and his colleagues on the night. With his goal 10 minutes into the second half, Haaland became the fastest player to ever reach 50 goals in the Champions League, achieving the feat in just 49 matches.