UEFA Champions League
Napoli 2 – 1 Sporting CP FT
Napoli started their Champions League marketing campaign with defeat at Manchester Metropolis however have bounced again [Getty Images]
On-loan Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund scored twice as Napoli defeated Sporting to safe their first Champions League win of the season.
Each of Hojlund’s targets got here with assists from former Manchester Metropolis midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, whereas Colombian ahead Luis Suarez transformed a penalty for Portuguese facet Sporting.
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Napoli’s successful aim got here within the 79th minute, with this optimistic end result following the Italians’ 2-0 loss at Manchester Metropolis of their opening match.
Hojlund accomplished a season-long mortgage transfer to the reigning Serie A champions on switch deadline day at the start of September having not featured in United’s opening 4 aggressive video games of 2025-26.
The 22-year-old scored 26 targets in 95 video games in his spell at Previous Trafford after becoming a member of in a £72m transfer from Atalanta in August 2023.
He managed solely 4 targets within the Premier League in 2024-25 however has now scored thrice in 5 video games for Napoli, who’ve an obligation to purchase the Denmark worldwide for £38m on the finish of the season if sure situations are met, together with Champions League qualification.
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Hojlund confirmed tempo and energy for his first aim when he collected De Bruyne’s via ball earlier than clinically ending previous Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva.
Matteo Politano fouled Maximiliano Araujo to concede a second-half penalty, which Suarez transformed to make it 1-1, however Hojlund obtained the winner with a courageous header following De Bruyne’s cross from the left touchline.
Sporting have now additionally gained one and misplaced one in every of their two Champions League matches after they started with a 4-1 victory over Kazakh facet Kairat.