Made in Manchester! McTominay banger, De Bruyne milestone & Hojlund on target as Napoli run riot

Napoli just went and made a proper statement. Four nil. Cremonese put to the sword. And the best bit? Three of the goals came from lads with serious Manchester connections.

Scott McTominay yep, the former Manchester United man, kicked things off with an absolute rocket inside three minutes. Kevin De Bruyne, still doing City things even in Italy, bagged his 100th career goal across Europe’s top five leagues. And Rasmus Hojlund? He got in on the act too. A proper ‘Made in Manchester’ night at the Diego Armando Maradona.

Antonio Conte’s side barely broke a sweat. The game was done by half time, honestly.

McTominay had already been denied by the keeper seconds before he finally smashed one in. The Scotsman wasn’t in the mood to wait. Three minutes on the clock, ball in the net. That’s how you bounce back from a title race wobble.

Then Hojlund made it two, a deflected effort that wrong footed everyone, before De Bruyne added a third with that kind of cold, surgical finish we’ve seen a hundred times in the Premier League. Alisson Santos wrapped it up early in the second half. McTominay even had a chance for a second late on but saw his penalty saved by Emil Audero. Greedy, eh?

But here’s the stat that really matters. De Bruyne’s goal wasn’t just any goal. It was his 100th across Europe’s top five leagues. And get this, since his debut in the 2012/2013 season, only Marco Reus has reached that milestone among midfielders. That’s elite company right there.

It was only his second non penalty goal of the Serie A campaign, mind. But who’s counting when you hit a century?

So where does this leave the title race? Napoli are on 69 points now. Still alive. Just about.

Christian Chivu’s Inter remain heavy favourites, no doubt. They’re still miles ahead. But this win means the Nerazzurri can’t wrap things up this weekend, a win against Torino would put them 12 clear with four games left. That’s not mathematically done but it’s as good as.

Realistically? Inter could be crowned champions next weekend without even kicking a ball. If results go their way and Napoli plus AC Milan drop points, the Scudetto heads to the San Siro. Painful for Conte’s men but that’s the maths of it.

Napoli’s final month is no picnic. They go to Como on May 2, then host Bologna nine days later. After that it’s Pisa away on May 17 before finishing at home against Udinese on May 24.

Any more dropped points now and it’s over. Gone. Finito. Napoli need Inter to slip up against Torino and Parma and even then, it’s a long shot.

Still, for one night at least, the former Premier League boys made sure Naples had something to cheer about. McTominay, De Bruyne, Hojlund. Made in Manchester, doing damage in Italy. You love to see it.