Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne each scored as Napoli beat Sassuolo 2-0 to make a successful start to their Serie A title defence.
McTominay, voted Player of the Season, confirmed his status after an impressive performance in the 2024-25 campaign, opening the scoring with a fine header.
Former Manchester City man De Bruyne scored on his debut after returning from a free-kick, and the hosts' situation was made more difficult when Ismael Kone was sent off for a second booking.
In Germany, Erik ten Hag's debut match in the Bundesliga as coach of Bayer Leverkusen did not bring a positive result – the team lost to Hoffenheim with a score of 2:1.
Jarrell Quansah, signed from Liverpool in the summer for £35m, put Bayer ahead early in the game but the visitors levelled before the break through Fisnik Asllani and Tim Lemperle, who scored the winner in the second half.
Borussia Dortmund managed to make up for a two-goal lead at the end of the match: St. Pauli managed to equalize the score (3:3) after Filippo Mane was sent off.
Goals from Serjo Guirassy, Waldemar Anton and Julian Brandt decided the outcome of the match in favour of Dortmund, who led 3:1 in the final minutes.
However, after Mane was sent off, the opponent became more active: Danel Sinani converted a penalty, and in the 89th minute Eric Smith earned a draw for St. Pauli.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
