Rasmus Højlund finally looked like a man reborn on Tuesday night as he struck twice to hand Napoli a hard-fought 2–1 win over Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League. Playing at the iconic Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli needed to get back to winning ways following the disappointing defeat at the hands of AC Milan last time out and the Danish forward on loan from Manchester United delivered his first brace in nearly 10 months, reminding fans why he was once considered one of Europe’s brightest young strikers.
Napoli, desperate to kickstart their European campaign after a quiet opening, found their breakthrough in the 37th minute, and it came through a move that oozed class. Softfootball reports that Kevin De Bruyne, who was operating in his usual creative pocket, split Sporting’s defence with a perfectly weighted through ball. Højlund, showing great awareness, broke free of the offside trap and calmly slotted the ball beneath Rui Silva. It was a composed finish, the kind that had been missing from his game during his struggles in England.
The roar inside the Maradona was deafening, and you could feel the relief in Højlund’s celebration. For him, this was more than a goal; it was a statement not only for himself but also for the club that suffered a round one 2-nil defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
Sporting, however, hit back through a Luis Suárez penalty in the 62nd minute, briefly unsettling the home side. But Napoli, driven by De Bruyne’s brilliance, regained control late on. From a corner in the 79th minute, the Belgian maestro whipped in a teasing ball, and Højlund climbed highest to thump home a header. It was his second of the night and a reminder of his aerial threat something Manchester United fans often lamented not seeing enough of.
Antonio Conte’s men looked solid overall, with De Bruyne pulling the strings once again. The Belgian was substituted to a standing ovation after recording two assists, three key passes, and an 89% pass accuracy.
UEFA uploaded an appreciation post of the Belgium on their official X account, praising his match-winning assist.
They posted:
For Højlund, this was more than just a brace it was redemption. After a challenging spell at Old Trafford, the 22-year-old is finding his rhythm again in Italy. His growing chemistry with De Bruyne could prove vital for Napoli’s European ambitions, and if nights like this continue, fans might just be witnessing the rebirth of a top striker.
