UEFA Champions League League Stage - 2
Napoli 2 - 1 FT Sporting CP
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
36' R. Hojlund (K. De Bruyne)
HT
↓ Trincao ↑P. Goncalves 46'
↓ G. Catamo ↑L. Suarez 46'
L. Suarez 62'
↓ E. Quaresma ↑Z. Debast 67'
↓ F. Ioannidis ↑Alisson Santos 67'
69' ↓ M. Politano ↑David Neres
69' ↓ S. McTominay ↑N. Lang
↓ J. Simoes ↑H. Morita 78'
79' R. Hojlund (K. De Bruyne)
81' ↓ K. De Bruyne ↑B. Gilmour
81' ↓ M. Gutierrez ↑M. Olivera
90' ↓ R. Hojlund ↑L. Lucca
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Napoli
Goalkeepers
V. Milinkovic-Savic 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
L. Spinazzola 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
S. Beukema
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Juan Jesus
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Gutierrez
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Midfielders
S. Lobotka 
MAGNET
86
Activity
86
Activity
79
Passes
7
Duels
M. Politano 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.3
Rating
F. Anguissa
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
K. De Bruyne 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
2
Assists
40%
Pass Acc
S. McTominay
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Forwards
R. Hojlund 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
BENCH
A. Meret 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Ferrante
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Olivera
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Gilmour
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Elmas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Vergara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
David Neres
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Lucca
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Ambrosino
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Lang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sporting CP
Goalkeepers
R. Silva 
SIEVE
33%
Save %
33%
Save %
2
Conceded
1
Saves
Defenders
I. Fresneda 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
8
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
E. Quaresma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
G. Inacio
MAGNET
87
Activity
87
Activity
79
Passes
8
Duels
M. Araujo
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
1
Pens Won
Midfielders
M. Hjulmand
MAGNET
79
Activity
79
Activity
71
Passes
8
Duels
J. Simoes
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
G. Quenda
PROVOCATEUR
5
Fouls Won
5
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Trincao
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
G. Catamo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
F. Ioannidis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
BENCH
J. Virginia
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Matheus Reis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Z. Debast
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Vagiannidis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
O. Diomande
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Mangas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Morita
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. Goncalves
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Kochorashvili
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alisson Santos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Ribeiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Suarez 
SUPER SUB
1
Goal
1
Goal
45
Minutes
6.9
Rating
League Standings
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +5
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -5
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +19
P: 8 GD: +14
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +9
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -13
P: 8 GD: -11
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -13
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Hojlund's Double Rescues Napoli from Brink at Maradona
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 59/100. After an opening loss, Napoli needed a statement—and Rasmus Hojlund's clinical finishing delivered exactly that, turning a tight Champions League encounter into a masterclass of composure under Intensity.
The Architect and the Assassin
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona witnessed a redemption arc unfold in 90 minutes. Kevin De Bruyne orchestrated Napoli's rhythm with surgical precision—three key passes, two assists—pulling strings that bent Sporting CP's defence into submission. But it was Hojlund who delivered the knockout blows. His 36th-minute opener, a composed finish from De Bruyne's craft, set the tone. The Danish striker's second, arriving in the 79th minute, buried any hope of a Sporting comeback and showcased the Balance between Napoli's midfield vision and clinical execution.
Sporting's Penalty Lifeline Proves Hollow
Luis Suarez's 62nd-minute penalty—a lifeline converted with precision—briefly threatened to shift the Stakes. For 17 minutes, Sporting CP sensed vulnerability. Their xG of 1.35 suggested they created the more dangerous opportunities, yet Napoli's 51% possession and sharper finishing proved decisive. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic made three crucial saves, denying Sporting a leveller when the momentum swung toward the visitors. The goalkeeper's distribution and command of his box prevented what could have been a dramatic collapse.
The Turning Point
Hojlund's second goal was the inflection point. Napoli had weathered Sporting's storm—12 shots faced, four on target—but De Bruyne's creative dominance never wavered. When the 79th-minute goal arrived, it wasn't fortune; it was the inevitable conclusion of a team that controlled the narrative despite near-parity in possession. Sporting CP's opening-day victory now feels like a false dawn. Napoli, by contrast, have answered their own opening defeat with the kind of performance that suggests Champions League credentials run deeper than one match.
Key Questions
What made Rasmus Hojlund the Man of the Match?
Two clinical finishes from limited touches, converting De Bruyne's service with ruthless efficiency. His composure under pressure defined Napoli's comeback.
Did Sporting CP deserve more from this match?
Their xG of 1.35 suggests they created chances. However, Napoli's conversion rate and De Bruyne's playmaking proved the difference. Execution, not creation, separated them.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Continental Survival at the Maradona
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 24/100. This is a desperate scramble for points between two sides clinging to the Champions League playoff qualification line.
The Setup
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona sets the stage for a critical encounter where the margin for error has evaporated. With Napoli sitting dangerously close to the elimination threshold in 23rd place, the Stakes for this October 01 fixture couldn't be higher. Sporting CP arrives in 14th, looking to solidify their grip on a playoff spot, but their recent Form suggests a side that is vulnerable when traveling. Both managers know that a defeat here could see them tumble below the top-24 line, making this more of a tactical chess match than a free-flowing spectacle.
Key Battle
The tactical battle will be won in the transition phase between the home midfield and the away defensive block. Without specific Stars dominating the narrative, the focus falls on structural Balance. Napoli's midfield must find a way to penetrate a Sporting backline that has shown cracks this season, while the visitors will aim to exploit the spaces left behind by a Napoli side forced to push for a home victory.
Our Prediction
We expect a cagey, high-tension match where nerves dictate the tempo. Napoli will likely control the ball, but Sporting’s defensive organization is designed to frustrate. Neither side can afford a total collapse, leading to a gritty 1-1 draw where tactical discipline overrides attacking flair.