Neres Double Fires Napoli to Italian Super Cup Glory

Napoli’s Brazilian winger David Neres delivered a decisive performance as the Serie A champions overpowered Bologna to claim the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Napoli sealed a 2–0 victory over Bologna on Monday night, lifting the Italian Super Cup after a composed and clinical display in the final played in Jeddah.

The reigning Serie A champions took control of the contest through David Neres, whose two goals separated both sides and underlined Napoli’s attacking sharpness on a night that rarely allowed Bologna room to breathe.

Neres broke the deadlock shortly before half-time with a stunning strike from distance, curling the ball beyond Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia to give Napoli a deserved lead. The goal capped a dominant first-half spell in which Napoli dictated possession and tempo, forcing Bologna into a largely defensive posture.

Bologna’s hopes of a comeback faded early in the second half when Neres struck again. The winger pounced on a misplaced pass from Ravaglia, intercepting the ball just outside the box before calmly finishing into an empty net. The error proved costly, effectively ending Bologna’s resistance and handing Napoli full control of the final.

The brace completed an impressive Super Cup campaign for Neres, who finished the tournament with three goals after also finding the net in Napoli’s 2–0 semi-final victory over AC Milan. His performances across both matches were central to Napoli’s path to the trophy.

While Napoli looked assured throughout, Bologna struggled to recreate the attacking confidence that saw them lift the Italian Cup last season. Despite moments of organisation, they lacked the cutting edge required to trouble Napoli’s defence and failed to register any clear chances of note.

Super Cup Format and Saudi Hosting

The Italian Super Cup has evolved in recent years. Traditionally contested between the Serie A champions and the Coppa Italia winners, the competition was expanded in 2023 to include the runners-up from both tournaments, creating a four-team format.

Under the current agreement, the Super Cup will continue to be staged in Saudi Arabia until 2029, with the tournament serving both competitive and commercial interests for Italian football.

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For Napoli, the victory adds another trophy to their recent resurgence and reinforces their status as one of Italy’s dominant forces. For Bologna, the defeat brings an end to their Super Cup run but offers lessons as they continue to build on last season’s domestic success.

As the celebrations unfolded in Jeddah, Napoli once again demonstrated that when their attack clicks, few teams in Italy, or beyond, can contain them.