David Neres emerged as the hero of Napoli's Supercoppa triumph, netting a decisive brace to secure a 2-0 victory over Bologna in the EA SPORTS FC Supercoppa final at Al Awwal Stadium in Riyadh. The Brazilian winger's clinical finishing proved the difference as Napoli claimed their third Supercoppa title, defeating the Coppa Italia holders in a contest where the teams shared possession almost equally at 49.4%-50.6%.
The opening goal arrived in the 39th minute when Neres found space inside the Bologna penalty area and finished with precision. The Brazilian's movement had troubled the Bologna backline throughout the first half, and his breakthrough rewarded Napoli's patient build-up play. The goal shifted the momentum decisively in Napoli's favor, forcing Bologna to abandon their cautious approach and commit more bodies forward after the interval.
Neres doubled his tally in the 57th minute, putting the result beyond doubt with another composed finish. His second strike showcased the quality that has made him such a valuable asset, as he capitalized on Bologna's defensive disorganization to extend Napoli's advantage. The goal effectively ended the contest as a competitive affair, though Bologna continued to press for a consolation.
Bologna's resistance was anchored by their goalkeeper, who was called into action five times and produced several outstanding stops to prevent a heavier defeat. The visitors competed admirably in midfield, with Nikola Moro introduced at halftime to provide additional steel after a difficult opening period. Emil Holm and Torbjorn Heggem worked tirelessly down the flanks, though both found themselves in the referee's notebook as frustrations mounted. Heggem collected a yellow card in the 44th minute, while Holm followed suit in the 77th minute as Bologna's discipline wavered.
Napoli's attacking dominance manifested in the statistics, as they registered 15 shots compared to Bologna's 11 and crucially converted eight efforts on target. The Serie A champions also edged the corner count 7-5, consistently threatening from set pieces. Bologna committed 15 fouls to Napoli's nine, reflecting their struggle to contain the hosts' fluid attacking movement through legal means.
The turning point arrived with Neres's opening goal just before halftime, which punctured Bologna's defensive organization and forced them into a more expansive approach. Manager Vincenzo Italiano responded with a flurry of substitutions, introducing Thijs Dallinga and Jon Rowe in the 69th minute, followed by Ciro Immobile and Benjamín Domínguez shortly after. However, these changes failed to spark the comeback Bologna desperately needed. Napoli manager Antonio Conte, who has now won the Supercoppa in all three of his appearances as a manager, introduced fresh legs through Miguel Gutiérrez and Noa Lang in the 68th minute, while Pasquale Mazzocchi and Alessandro Buongiorno entered late to help see out the victory. Matteo Politano's 79th-minute yellow card represented a rare blemish on an otherwise controlled Napoli performance.
The result marked the 38th edition of Italy's traditional season-opening trophy, with the Serie A champions once again proving too strong for the cup holders. Looking ahead, Napoli will host Cremonese on December 28, while Bologna will host Sassuolo on the same date as both sides return to domestic action.