Napoli 3-0 Frosinone: De Bruyne inspires new approach in Serie A win

Napoli impressed with a new 3-4-3 tactic to beat Frosinone 3-0 with a chaotic Kevin De Bruyne brace and Noa Lang tap-in, while Scott McTominay made his return.

The Partenopei moved to a 3-4-3 system with Benoit Badiashile’s first start, as Antonio Vergara joined Costantino Favasuli, Alisson Santos, Frank Anguissa, Mathias Olivera and Alessandro Buongiorno on the treatment table. Alex Meret, David Neres and Lorenzo Spinazzola all recovered, with Scott McTominay available for the first time a month after surgery for a cardiac arrhythmia .

Frosinone were three points ahead of Napoli going into this match, having beaten Como 2-0 before the break for international duty. Florian Grillitsch and Daniel Birligea missed out, but Antonio Raimondo shook off a knock to lead the attack.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 10: Massimiliano Alvini, Manager of Frosinone Calcio, and Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of SSC Napoli, interact before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Frosinone Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) It was a frantic start from the hosts, as in the third minute Rasmus Hojlund thumped the upright from the Giovanni Di Lorenzo cross as he managed to get in front of his marker.

Di Lorenzo was decisive at the other end to stop Giorgi Kvernadze meeting the Romano Schmid cross from the right, then the Georgia international tested Meret from the tightest of angles.

There was controversy when Hojlund burst into the box and went down under pressure from Giorgio Cittadini for a soft penalty, which VAR opted not to suggest a review for.

Hojlund stepped up much to the chagrin of Allegri on the touchline and it was parried by Lorenzo Palmisani, but VAR showed the goalkeeper’s feet were off the line, so it had to be retaken. The coach intervened and ordered De Bruyne go instead, converting successfully.

NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 10: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli scores a penalty for his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Frosinone Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) Moments later, Di Lorenzo turned a defender on the Hojlund lay-off to be blocked off by Palmisani, but the ball kept going and Lang was ready to turn into an empty net from close range for 2-0.

Lang also stung Palmisani’s gloves with a ferocious strike at the near post, while Neres drilled inches wide after starting a run from inside his own half.

NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 10: Noa Lang of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Frosinone Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) After the restart, Neres completed a rapid give and go with Lang to graze the upright, but more importantly McTominay made his comeback to a standing ovation.

A couple of dangerous Kvernadze cross-shots flashed past Meret with no Frosinone teammates ready to take advantage, then tested the goalkeeper himself from the edge of the area.

NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 10: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli interacts with Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of SSC Napoli, after being substituted off during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Frosinone Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) McTominay almost scored, testing Palmisani at the near post, but fellow substitute Lorenzo Lucca was jeered for a couple of mistakes.

In stoppages, Alessio Zerbin rolled across and Tomas Bobcek couldn’t get on the end of it for a tap-in from six yards.

With the last kick of the game, Giovane got down the left and pulled back from the byline, where De Bruyne gently guided it first-time in at the near bottom corner with the inside of the boot.

Napoli 3-0 Frosinone De Bruyne pen 29, 94 (N), Lang 32 (N)

10-10-2026 19:45

MatchDay 6

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli

Frosinone

3 - 0

Player statistic

1st half

Kevin De Bruyne

29'

Noa Lang

32'

2nd half

Amir Rrahmani

80'

Benoît Badiashile

85'

Kevin De Bruyne (Assist: Giovane)

90+4'

Napoli

Frosinone

Starting lineups

1

Alex Meret Goalkeeper

13

Amir Rrahmani Defender

5

Benoît Badiashile Defender

22

Giovanni Di Lorenzo Defender

37

Leonardo Spinazzola Defender

80'

16

Rafa Marín Defender

11

Kevin De Bruyne Midfielder

68

Stanislav Lobotka Midfielder

71'

7

David Neres Attacker

61'

70

Noa Lang Attacker

72'

19

Rasmus Højlund Attacker

61'

22

Lorenzo Palmisani Goalkeeper

20

Anthony Oyono Defender

79

Gabriele Bracaglia Defender

76'

3

Gabriele Calvani Defender

2

Giorgio Cittadini Defender

14

Giacomo Calò Midfielder

73

Patrizio Masini Midfielder

46'

10

Romano Schmid Midfielder

83'

9

Antonio Raimondo Attacker

63'

7

Farès Ghedjemis Attacker

63'

17

Giorgi Kvernadze Attacker

Substitutes

14

Nikita Contini Goalkeeper

32

Vanja Milinković-Savić Goalkeeper

31

Sam Beukema Defender

35

Luca Marianucci Defender

36

Milton Pereyra Attacker

20

Lorenzo Lucca Attacker

61'

8

Scott McTominay Midfielder

61'

6

Billy Gilmour Midfielder

71'

23

Giovane Attacker

72'

21

Matteo Politano Attacker

80'

91

Sebastiano Desplanches Goalkeeper

5

Wisdom Amey Defender

30

Ilario Monterisi Defender

12

Matteo Pisseri Goalkeeper

25

Kevin Akpoguma Defender

74

Omar Fayed Defender

70

Luis Hasa Midfielder

90

Enzo Tchato Defender

71

Aleksa Terzic Defender

46'

40

Seydou Fini Attacker

63'

89

Tomas Bobcek Attacker

63'

16

Matteo Cichella Midfielder

76'

24

Alessio Zerbin Attacker

83'