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This video can not be played Champions League highlights: Napoli 2-1 Sporting Lisbon On-loan Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund called it "a night you dream of" after he scored twice, including a late winner, as Napoli beat Sporting for their first Champions League victory of the season. Both of Hojlund's goals came with assists from former Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, while Colombian forward Luis Suarez converted a penalty for Portuguese side Sporting. Napoli's winning goal came in the 79th minute, with this positive result following the Italians' 2-0 loss at Manchester City in their opening match. Hojlund completed a season-long loan move to the reigning Serie A champions on transfer deadline day at the beginning of September having not featured in United's opening four competitive games of 2025-26. During his two years at Old Trafford, he scored five goals in the Champions League - one against Bayern Munich and doubles against Galatasaray and Copenhagen - although United lost all three of those matches. After scoring twice against Sporting, the 22-year-old, speaking to Uefa, said: "It was the night you dream of, playing in the Champions League. "I celebrated touching the Napoli badge because I'm happy to play here and the Champions League badge because I love to score in Europe. " This video can not be played 'City of old, to United of old! ' - De Bruyne and Hojlund link up for Napoli opener Hojlund has scored 26 goals in 95 games for United, who he joined in a £72m move from Atalanta in August 2023. He managed only four goals in the Premier League in 2024-25 but has now scored three times in five games for Napoli. They have an obligation to buy the Denmark international for £38m at the end of the season if certain conditions are met, including Champions League qualification. Hojlund showed pace and strength for his first goal when he collected De Bruyne's through ball before clinically finishing past Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva. Matteo Politano fouled Maximiliano Araujo to concede a second-half penalty, which Suarez converted to make it 1-1, but Hojlund got the winner with a brave header following De Bruyne's cross from the left touchline. "Rasmus has a lot of quality and as a striker when you go forward you need that smell of goals - it's really important for him and the team, " said De Bruyne. "It's a great night for him and it's going to help us get more goals with him. " De Bruyne, 34, won the Champions League with Manchester City in 2023. He joined Napoli on a free transfer in June this year, and on Wednesday he ended a run of eight games in the competition without a goal or an assist. The Belgian also became the sixth player to assist two goals in a Champions League game on five or more occasions, with the others being Angel di Maria (eight times), Ryan Giggs and David Beckham (both seven) and Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane (both five). "Playing with an exceptional talent like Kevin de Bruyne is special, " said Hojlund. "I just need to get into space and he'll get me the ball. " Like Napoli, Sporting have now also won one and lost one of their two Champions League matches after they began with a 4-1 victory over Kazakh side Kairat. Man Utd duo Hojlund & Antony join Napoli & Real Betis Last Updated 1st October 2025 at 22: 08 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Antonio Conte Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 Manager: Rui Borges Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Antonio Conte Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 Manager: Rui Borges Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 UEFA Champions League All competitions The two previous meetings between Napoli and Sporting CP have both finished 0-0, with both coming in the first round of the 1989-90 UEFA Cup first round (Napoli progressed on penalties). Napoli have won all four of their UEFA Champions League matches against Portuguese sides, beating Benfica twice in 2016-17 and Braga twice in 2023-24 (all in group stage meetings). Sporting CP have never won away to an Italian side in any European competition, drawing five and losing 13 of their 18 total attempts (including qualifiers). Their only clean sheet in this run did come away to Napoli, however, drawing 0-0 in September 1989 in the UEFA Cup. Napoli boss Antonio Conte has faced Sporting CP on two previous occasions in the UEFA Champions League, failing to win either match while in charge of Tottenham (D1 L1) in the 2022-23 group stage. Only against Barcelona and Real Madrid (four each) has he overseen more games in the competition without winning. Sporting CP will be looking to win their opening two games in a UEFA Champions League campaign for just the second time, having previously done so in 2022-23 under Rúben Amorim (3-0 v Eintracht Frankfurt and 2-0 v Tottenham Hotspur). In terms of average age, Sporting CP had the second youngest starting XI on MD1 of the current UEFA Champions League campaign (24y 255d). Opponents Napoli, meanwhile, had the fourth oldest across the 18 games played in the opening matchday (29y 189d). Napoli only had one shot in their defeat to Manchester City last time out in the UEFA Champions League, with that coming from defender Sam Beukema. The Dutchman also completed the most passes (38), won the most duels (6) and made the most clearances (9) for the Italian side at the Etihad. Trincão scored a brace in Sporting CP’s opening UEFA Champions League campaign (v Kairat), as many goals as he had netted in his first 22 appearances in the competition combined (2). The 25-year-old also completed seven dribbles in that match; his most in a single Champions League outing to date. Kevin De Bruyne is set to make his first European appearance for Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. His only previous European outing there came back in November 2017, assisting one of four goals for Manchester City in a 4-2 win there in the UEFA Champions League. Sporting CP’s Pote completed 100% of his dribbles against Kairat on MD1 (7/7); the most by a player in a UEFA Champions League game with a 100% success rate since Manchester City’s John Stones in the 2023 final versus Internazionale (also 7/7). First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
