Riyadh (Sports News): A David Neres double ensured Napoli were crowned 2025-26 EA SPORTS FC™ Italian Supercup champions on Monday night, courtesy of a 2-0 win over Bologna at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh.
Neres opened the scoring in spectacular fashion six minutes before half-time and added a second with a delicate chip shortly before the hour mark as Napoli brought the curtain down in style on the four-team tournament.
By returning to Saudi Arabia for a sixth time, the 2025-26 Italian Supercup reaffirmed Saudi's position as a leading destination for world-class football and its continued commitment to welcoming the best clubs, competitions, and supporters to the country.
Since 2015, the Kingdom has hosted more than 150 international sporting events, with football playing a central role in the country’s expanding sports ecosystem and both the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and FIFA World Cup 2034™ on the Saudi horizon.
Speaking after lifting the trophy, Napoli coach Antonio Conte said: "This experience in Saudi was really good, and I enjoyed it a lot. Not only me but also the players - we worked very well here.
"We're happy to deliver this title to our fans because we know how happy and passionate they are about the team."
Having lost the last Italian Supercup final with Napoli in 2024 at the same venue, centre-back Juan Jesus was pleased to get his hands on the trophy in Saudi Arabia this time around.
"It was a fantastic experience for me; this is the second time I've come here to Saudi. The first time wasn't great as we lost but now we've won," joked the Brazilian. "I'm happy with the organisation, the festival, and I'm happy with the title as it's a great achievement."
Although disappointed with the result, Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano also reflected on a positive trip, one he believes will benefit his side in the long run.
"It's been a beautiful experience," said Italiano. "This should lead us to more growth and development, while preparing us for the other competitions. We're happy with this experience across these few days and we're sorry that we didn't make our fans happy."
Defender Torbjørn Heggem echoed Italiano's sentiment, adding: "Personally, it was a new experience for me and a positive experience. We're travelling to Saudi and although it's a long travel we see a lot of Bologna fans. It's nice to see and hopefully we can come back next year and win the final."
