Scottish midfielders Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay made their debuts for Napoli in style, helping their new team secure a commanding 4-0 victory over Cagliari in Serie A on Sunday. Both players, signed on transfer deadline day from Brighton and Manchester United respectively, were introduced in the 74th minute with Napoli already 3-0 ahead.
Giovanni di Lorenzo, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Romelu Lukaku had put Antonio Conte’s side firmly in control before McTominay and Gilmour entered the pitch. The Scots replaced Kvaratskhelia and Stanislav Lobotka, with McTominay operating in an advanced midfield role and Gilmour slotting in as a deep-lying playmaker. Napoli added a fourth goal in stoppage time through Alessandro Buongiorno.
Both Gilmour and McTominay impressed in their cameo appearances, as Napoli extended their winning streak to three matches and moved to the top of the Serie A table with nine points from four games. The victory leaves them well-prepared for Saturday’s high-stakes clash against Juventus, who sit just a point behind in third place.
Napoli manager Antonio Conte, who is familiar with the duo from his time in the Premier League, invested £35 million to bring the pair to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. With no European commitments this season, Napoli will be able to focus solely on domestic success, as they seek to challenge for the Scudetto.
Elsewhere in Serie A, Scotland striker Che Adams returned from injury to feature in Torino’s 0-0 draw against Lecce, after missing out on international duty earlier this month.
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