ANTONIO CONTE’S 10-man ‘students’ looked set to produce a defensive masterclass to frustrate Manchester City.
But then up stepped head boy Erling Haaland to ensure his team passed with flying colours on the opening night.
The former Chelsea boss said before the game his Italian champs were very much the learners against a team of City’s pedigree.
And despite an early red card for skipper Giovanni Di Lorenzo, he set up his team to give Pep Guardiola’s men a real test.
But just before the hour Haaland again proved he is top of the class – scoring his 50th goal in this competition.
He latched onto a lovely dink forward from Phil Foden to nod his team into the lead and from there they never looked back.
Jeremy Doku added a second on what proved to be a desperately disappointing return to the Etihad for his international team-mate Kevin De Bruyne.
City fans unfurled a ‘King Kev’ banner before the game to welcome home one of their favourite sons – just four months after his departure.
It showed the Belgian wearing robes and a crown in honour of the 16 trophies he won in 10 unforgettable years.
Yet there was to be no fairytale return as his night lasted only 26 minutes.
It was no fault of his own – the veteran midfielder reminded the Etihad faithful of his quality during the brief time he was on the pitch.
But a red card for the captain forced Antonio Conte into a rethink before the half hour.
KDB could hardly believe it – he did a double take when the number 11 went up. And the home support who had come to say yet another goodbye were a little surprised too.
This certainly wasn’t in the script but if De Bruyne felt hard one by – he needs to have a word with his captain on the flight back to Italy.
There did not seem to be much danger as Haaland chased a pass from Foden but the defender got in a mess.
He lunged to repair the damage and looked to have got something on the ball – clearly the German ref thought so too as he waved play on.
However Haaland and Bernardo Silva were both sure he hadn’t and the VAR told the official to have another look.
A red card followed as the Norwegian would have been in on goal.
Conte decided to put the shutters up – and after a few minutes of weighing up his options decided to end KDB’s special night.
You couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for the City legend.
But his new team-mates did everything they could to keep the home side at bay and prove it was the right call in the remainder of the first half.
Giant visiting keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic – who was once on Manchester United’s books – kept them out, making a flying stop from Nico O’Reilly to go with an early one from Tijjani Reijnders.
And he was there again to grab the ball just in time as Matteo Politano took the sting out of a shot by City’s Dutch midfielder.
Milinkovic-Savic left these shores 10 years ago but was doing a better job at keeping City out than the current Red Devils did five days ago.
Prior to the red card, Napoli had one moment of their own when defender Sam Beukema’s header was well stopped by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
But once the visitors went down to 10, the Neopolitan keeper probably knew he was in for a quiet night.
And it was a similar story after the break with Jeremy Doku playing in Foden who rolled a shot just wide of the far post.
It seemed only a matter of time before the breakthrough came and 11 minutes into the second half it arrived.
Foden chipped a delicious ball through the middle and Haaland stooped to loop a header up and over Milinkovic Savic.
His half century of goals in his favourite competition have come in just 49 matches – 13 quicker than the previous record held by Ruud van Nistelrooy.
And with KDB now consigned to the history books, nobody will be happier than Haaland to see Foden looking more like his old self.
The England ace has endured a disappointing 12 months since he was voted the Prem’s Player of the Year in the previous season.
But in the last five days he appears to have got his mo-jo back – and that can only be good news for club and country.
Winger Doku revealed he was off to get baptised after running United ragged in the derby on Sunday evening.
And he looked full of energy as he twisted and turned in the box before rolling home the second of the night midway through the second half.
It’s not only Doku, in the last few days, City look like they are born again.
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