Napoli began their Serie A title defense with a convincing 2-0 away win against Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium on Sunday, August 24, 2025. The champions sent an early statement of intent with a professional performance on the opening weekend of the Italian season. Napoli controlled the tempo from the start and broke the deadlock midway through the first half, their new signing scoring on his debut with a composed finish. Sassuolo struggled to create meaningful chances against a disciplined Napoli backline. The visitors sealed the three points in the second half with a classic counter-attacking goal, finished expertly by their star forward. The result immediately put Napoli at the top end of the fledgling Serie A table, while Sassuolo were left to reflect on a difficult start. Napoli's manager praised his team's concentration, and the Sassuolo coach acknowledged the quality of the opposition.