Record-breaking Haaland and Doku fire impressive City to victory over Napoli | OneFootball

Goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku saw City get our 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign off to a flying start as Pep Guardiola’s side overcame 10-man Napoli 2-0 at the Etihad.

Antonio Conte’s Italian champions had been reduced to 10 men early in the first half after skipper Giovanni Di Lorenzo was shown a red card by referee Félix Zwayer for a foul on Erling Haaland after a VAR check.

Though the visitors defended stubbornly, City made our numerical advantage when that man Haaland – who else – broke the deadlock with a brilliant 56th minute header to become the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the Champions League.

It meant the Norwegian had reached the half century in just 49 games, easily overtaking previous record holder Ruud van Nistelrooy who reached it in 62.

City then deservedly doubled our advantage thanks to a superb solo effort from Jeremy Doku, the strike rounding off a fine display from the Belgian winger to ensure our European campaign hit the ground running.

The game in 250 words

It proved a measured opening with City quickly assuming territorial dominance and control.

The game’s first real flashpoint then arrived on 19 minutes when Napoli were reduced to 10 men after skipper Giovanni Di Lorenzo was sent off for bringing down Erling Haaland.

The game’s first real flashpoint then arrived on 19 minutes when Napoli were reduced to 10 men after skipper Giovanni Di Lorenzo was sent off for bringing down Erling Haaland.

Having been turned by Haaland, the defender sought to atone but only succeeded in bringing the Norwegian down on the edge of the box.

Though referee Zwayer initially waived play on, he was advised by VAR to check again on the pitch side monitor and had no hesitation in showing the red card.

Kevin De Bruyne’s emotional return to the Etihad was then cut short on 26 minutes.

The Belgian – back on his old stomping ground four months after leaving - was replaced by Mathias Olivera as Napoli boss Antonio Conte sought to shore up his back line and De Bruyne was afforded a rapturous, sustained ovation from all four corners of the ground.

With the pressure building, City sought to make our numerical advantage tell and Milinkovic-Savic produced a breathtaking 42nd minute save to deny Nico O’Reilly’s deft header, the keeper diving low to his right to somehow claw the ball away.

And the Serbian was there again in first half injury time to deny Rodri via a fortuitous touch off Politano which diverted a goal bound shot into the grateful keeper’s hands.

The second half saw City continue to lay siege to the Napoli goal and the crucial breakthrough finally arrived on the 58 minutes through that man Erling Haaland.

The big man maintained his stunning start to the season, neatly latching onto Phil Foden’s cute assist to head over Malinkovic-Savic to chalk up his 50th career goal in the Champions League in record time.

It was his 12th goal of the season all told and also meant he was the quickest player in Champions League to reach the 50 landmark, achieving it in just 49 games.

With the Napoli dam breached, City then further emphasised our dominance with Jeremy Doku doubling the advantage with a superb 62nd minute strike.

The Belgian winger waltzed through four challenges inside the visitors’ box before coolly despatching a precise finish to set the seal on a fine night's work for City.

STAR MAN

There were several contenders but Phil Foden again really caught the eye.

He carried a threat right from the first whistle and was a constant thorn in Napoli's side, with his delicious dink setting up Haaland's opener.

And following on from his heroics in the Manchester derby it was further evidence our Academy graduate is right back in the groove.

50 something

Another night, another record-breaking achievement from Ering Haaland.

In breaking the deadlock against Napoli, the brilliant Norwegian, who has amassed a blizzard of outstanding records and achievements in the three and bit years since he joined City from Borussia Dortmund, secured another notable first.

That superbly executed second half header saw 25-year-old take his overall tally of Champions League goals to 50 – and so become the quickest player ever to chalk up a half century.

Erling has now amassed 50 goals in 49 Champions League appearances with Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and more latterly City.

It saw him become just the tenth player to reach 50 goals with Ruud van Nistelrooy the previous fastest to reach the half century from 62 matches.

Another stat to savour for our master marksman.

Short but sweet

Kevin De Bruyne’s return to the Etihad had been much anticipated but in the event it proved a frustratingly short affair.

The Belgian, back at the ground he had graced with class and quality for 10 magical years, had already shown a few touches of trademark magic when he was brought off on 26 minutes.

With the visitors reduced to 10 men, Napoli boss Antonio Conte opted to sacrifice De Bruyne’s vision and flair for the industry of substitute Mathias Olivera.

In case he needed any reminding of the stature with which he is held by the City fans, a rousing reception accompanied him as left the field.

Teams

CITY XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol (Ake 84), O’Reilly, Rodrigo (Nico 60) , Bernardo (C), Reijnders (Bobb 84), Foden, Doku (Savinho 69), Haaland (Lewis 84)

Subs: Trafford, Bettenelli, Savinho, Nunes, Mukasa, Mfuni.

NAPOLI XI: Milinkovic-Savic, Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Lobotka (Elmas 70), Politano (Juan Jesus 55), Anguissa (Gilmour 70), De Bruyne (Olivera 26), McTominay, Hojlund (Neres 70).

Subs: Meret, Ferrante, Gutierrez, Vergara, Lucca, Lang, Ambrosino.

Attendance: 49,531.

Pep’s reaction

"Against 10 we made a really good performance against . The Italian team with 10 men can defend every block.

How aggressive they are I faced that many times in my career.

"We are really pleased because I know how good Napoli are.

"What can I say (about Erling Haaland)? The numbers speak for themselves and how lucky we are to have him. Van Nistelrooy and Lewandowski and Cristiano and Messi, Erling is there. In terms of goals he is unbelievable.

Phil Foden reaction

"They were a nightmare team to breakdown. I thought we were pretty clever and didn't give away too many turnovers.

"The first half was a bit frustrating. I wasn't getting too many touches between the lines. Erling [Haaland] is always going to make that run. It's just about getting that connection. He seems to break every record going. It's unheard of what he's doing. What an unbelievable player.

On Kevin de Bruyne's return: "He's a legend of the club. I can't thank him enough for what he has done. He's forever going to be a legend here."

What it means…

City make the perfect start to our European campaign.

One game, three points, and a clean sheet.

You can't ask for much more than that!

What’s next

City return to Premier League action on Sunday – and it’s another huge fixture for Pep Guardiola’s side.

We make the trip to London to tackle Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in a real battle of the thoroughbreds.

Kick-off in the capital is at 16.30pm (UK).