CASTEL DI SANGRO, ITALY – AUGUST 09: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Napoli and Girona at Stadio Teofilo Patini on August 09, 2025 in Castel di Sangro, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

Kevin De Bruyne makes his Serie A debut with Scott McTominay and Lorenzo Lucca, as Napoli begin the defence of their Serie A title against Domenico Berardi’s Sassuolo.

It kicks off at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia at 17.30 UK time (16.30 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Genoa-Lecce, Milan-Cremonese and Roma-Bologna on the Liveblog.

The Partenopei won the Scudetto in Antonio Conte’s debut season and invested heavily over the summer to strengthen their squad, most notably bringing in Manchester City icon De Bruyne.

However, Romelu Lukaku has been ruled out for up to three to four months by a serious thigh injury in pre-season, so ex-Udinese centre-forward Lucca leads the attack.

Alex Meret gets the gloves rather than new signing Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, at least for the time being, while Alessandro Buongiorno is still rusty after his injury.

Sassuolo won the Serie B title last season under coach Fabio Grosso, so this is a big test for them on their return to the top flight.

There are quite a few problems too, because Edoardo Iannoni is suspended, with Ruan Tressoldi, Laurs Skjellerup and Kristian Thorstvedt injured.

Club legend Berardi just signed a new contract and starts in the trident with Andrea Pinamonti and Armand Laurienté, although the latter is still linked with a possible exit this summer.

Sassuolo vs Napoli: where to watch on TV

The game will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 and DAZN in the UK and Ireland and Paramount+ in the USA.

Sassuolo vs. Napoli line-ups

Sassuolo: Turati; Walukiewicz, Romagna, Muharemovic, Doig; Lipani, Koné, Boloca; Berardi, Pinamonti, Laurienté

Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Olivera; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Lucca