Napoli misplaced 2-0 to Manchester Metropolis of their first outing of the season in a sport that was largely conditioned by Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s early pink card, however there was one delicate tactic that Antonio Conte tried to deploy in an try to interrupt Pep Guardiola’s aspect down.
The Partenopei have been at The Etihad Stadium on Thursday night time in what was Napoli’s first Champions League match after sitting out of the 2024-25 version, and the primary Champions League match managed by Conte in 925 days.
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The job was all the time going to be tough for Conte and his gamers after Di Lorenzo’s straight pink card simply 21 minutes in. The defender’s sending off additionally led to the substitution of former Man Metropolis star Kevin De Bruyne shortly afterwards, with full-back Mathias Olivera approaching to exchange him.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Erling Haaland of Manchester Metropolis is fouled by Giovanni Di Lorenzo of Napoli leading to a pink card throughout the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Part MD1 match between Manchester Metropolis and SSC Napoli at Metropolis of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photograph by Ryan Pierse/Getty Photographs)
What Conte did with Hojlund to attempt to beat Man Metropolis
With solely 10 gamers on the pitch, and going through a Man Metropolis aspect that’s all the time powerful to interrupt down, Conte had one trick up his sleeve whereas trying to interrupt down Guardiola’s aspect.
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That was to have centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund stand simply in entrance of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for Napoli aim kicks.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Nico Gonzalez of Manchester Metropolis has a headed shot while underneath strain from Rasmus Hojlund of Napoli throughout the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Part MD1 match between Manchester Metropolis and SSC Napoli at Metropolis of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photograph by Dan Istitene/Getty Photographs)
As gamers can’t be dominated offside instantly from aim kicks, the pondering was that Hojlund would assist stretch the Man Metropolis defence and create house between them and the midfield.
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Sadly for Conte and his gamers, the Hojlund trick was not sufficient to cease Haaland and his colleagues on the night time. Together with his aim 10 minutes into the second half, Haaland turned the quickest participant to ever attain 50 targets within the Champions League, reaching the feat in simply 49 matches.