Scott McTominay scored and was named Man of the Match as Napoli beat Pisa 3-0 to secure Champions League qualification on Sunday
Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay got on the scoresheet as Napoli beat Pisa 3-0 to secure their place in next season's Champions League. The Scotland international's goal also played a key role in confirming Rasmus Hojlund's permanent move to the Italian club.
McTominay has established himself as a key figure at Napoli since making the switch from Old Trafford to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in 2024. He was instrumental in their Scudetto triumph last campaign and lifted the Italian Supercup back in December.
It took him just 20 minutes to break the deadlock when his side travelled to Pisa on Sunday afternoon. He was then joined on the scoresheet in second-half stoppage time by Hojlund, who rounded off a commanding 3-0 victory and sealed Champions League qualification with a game still to play.
Antonio Conte's side's achievement means that the initial loan agreement struck with United for Hojlund will now be made permanent for £38m, with Italian media unanimously agreeing that both McTominay and the Danish striker will remain among the first names on Napoli's teamsheet.
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Gazzetta dello Sport
Hojlund will become a permanent Napoli player this summer following the victory, with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that he, alongside fellow ex-United star McTominay, ranks among Napoli's most influential figures.
A report read: "On an afternoon with a pace not far removed from that of an early August friendly, the Azzurri needed just the strikes of three of their most important players: first McTominay, then [Amir] Rrahmani and Hojlund.
"Who knows what kind of season the Azzurri would have had without the nearly 30 injuries suffered throughout the year? The time to dwell on what happened, however, is over. The long-awaited verdict has arrived.
"The match against Udinese will only serve to determine the league position of Antonio Conte's team, a man who, on the benches of Juventus, Inter, and Napoli, has never finished a season lower than second place: a point is enough. Enough motivation to tackle the final matchday at home at full capacity. And to start thinking about the future. "
Eurosport
McTominay received high praise from Eurosport following his display in Pisa, being crowned Man of the Match. The publication declared: "He dominates the midfield. [McTominay] scores the goal to make it 1-0 with a billiard-like shot from a perfect run and fights for every ball. Man of the Match."
Hojlund was equally lauded for his showing, on the very day his permanent transfer from United was confirmed. The outlet continued: "He closed the match with the goal to make it 3-0.
"His composure in front of goal was rewarded for a self-sacrificing performance, capped off by a winning lay-off from McTominay in the 91st minute."
Corriere della Sera
Publication Corriere della Sera noted that Napoli's campaign has been far from plain sailing, but praised the contributions of both McTominay and Hojlund. The outlet confirmed that the Scottish midfielder's goal tally has matched a long-standing club record.
It reported: "McTominay and Rhramani scored in the first half and Hojlund in the second. The rest was a game against a relegated opponent, which for Napoli represented a turning point in a season that has been somewhat uneven.
"This result also reflects Hojlund's fifteenth goal of the season (he hadn't scored in two months), which not only sets a personal league record, but also confirms Napoli's buyout. McTominay scored double figures, a record for a midfielder. The Scotsman joins [Marek] Hamsik and thus enters the club's history books."