Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne score as Napoli begin title defence with win

By PA Sport Staff

Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne both got on the scoresheet as Napoli earned a 2-0 win over Sassuolo to kick off their Serie A title defence.

The league’s player of the season McTominay picked up where he left off following his incredible 2024-25 campaign with a header to put them in front.

Former Manchester City star De Bruyne then scored on his debut after the interval with a free-kick and a difficult afternoon for the hosts continued when Ismael Kone was sent off for a second yellow card.

In Germany, Erik ten Hag’s first league game as Bayer Leverkusen boss ended in defeat after they were beaten 2-1 by Hoffenheim.

Jarrell Quansah, signed from Liverpool for £35million in July, headed Leverkusen into an early lead but the visitors levelled before the break through Fisnik Asllani and Tim Lemperle fired a brilliant second-half winner.

Borussia Dortmund relinquished a two-goal lead late in the day as St Pauli came from behind to earn a 3-3 draw after having Filippo Mane sent off.

Serhou Guirassy, Waldemar Anton and Julian Brandt put Dortmund on course for a routine win as they were 3-1 up heading into the final minutes of the contest.

But after Mane saw red, it opened the door for St Pauli who pulled a goal back from the spot through Danel Sinani before Eric Smith snatched a point in the 89th minute.