KEVIN DE BRUYNE was substituted just 26 minutes into his emotional Manchester City return.
The Belgian, 34, made his first trip back to the Etihad – having left in the summer to join Napoli following 10 years at City.
The attacking midfielder was given a rousing reception by the City faithful upon his return.
But his comeback was to be a brief one, due to a mistake by one of his team-mates.
Barely 20 minutes into the contest, Giovanni Di Lorenzo brought down Erling Haaland on the edge of the box.
The referee initially adjudged Di Lorenzo to have got the ball, but was advised by VAR to go and have another look.
After consulting the pitchside monitor, referee Felix Zwayer brandished a red card for the Napoli captain.
With his right-back having been sent off, boss Antonio Conte felt the need for a change.
The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager brought on Mathias Olivera, sacrificing De Bruyne in the process.
Being a senior player, the City legend took the brutal decision with grace, making his way off and acknowledging his manager.
The Etihad faithful gave De Bruyne a brilliant reception – serenading him as he trudged off his former stomping ground.
The score was level at 0-0 when Di Lorenzo was sent off.
Tijjani Reijnders’ subsequent free-kick was deflected wide, but Napoli’s 10 men were left with a tough ask regardless.
By half-time, Antonio Conte’s men had just 27 per cent possession, but crucially the game remained goalless.
Napoli’s resistance was broken on 56 minutes, when Haaland headed home Phil Foden’s brilliant scoop.
Jeremy Doku then doubled City’s lead with a brilliant solo effort on 65 minutes.
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