Although it took a Jose Callejon double to seal all three points against AC Milan on in round two, there is no arguing that summer signing Arkadiusz “Arek” Milik stole the headlines at the Stadio San Paolo.
In front of an expectant Neapolitan crowd, the 22-year-old’s early brace will have reinforced hopes that Napoli can still mount a significant title challenge to Juventus despite the departure of 36-goal Gonzalo Higuain.
However, despite following up some exciting performances for Poland at Euro 2016 with an equally impressive start to life in Serie A, there were doubts that the teenage prodigy would make it to the top of European football.
Spotted as a fresh-faced 16-year-old with local side Rozwoj Katowice, Milik rejected the fast track option towards English riches, preferring to remain in his homeland after trials with Reading and Tottenham Hotspur in 2011.
Moving to Gornik Zabrze soon after, two seasons in the Ekstraklasa appeared to do nothing but raise the profile of the physically capable youngster and after 12 goals in 40 appearances made the 600-mile journey west to the Bundesliga.
However, despite splashing out €2.6 million on the Pole, Bayer Leverkusen doubted the striker’s ability to significantly add to their title credentials and after just six outings in red and black packed him off to Augsburg on loan.
Milik fared little better at the WWK Arena, though, and made just five starts in 18 appearances, as a career that began with so much promise appeared to be stalling somewhat.
What the Bundesliga duo could not coax from the attacker’s talented boots was eventually set free in Amsterdam, though, after Ajax took Milik on temporarily for the 2014-15 campaign and negotiated a purchase fee of just €2.8 million that has now been heavily rewarded.
As the Poland international found his feet in the Eredivisie, he netted 23 times in all competitions and eventually left for Naples with a scoring record of a more than a goal-a-game.
His direct running at defences is somewhat in contrast to his rival for central striking duties at Napoli, Manolo Gabbiadini, and will help stretch many top-flight rearguards in the way in which the intelligence of Higuain’s movement did.
At 6”1, Milik not only has the physique to cope with the rigours of Italian football but adds some much-needed height to a rather diminutive front line that contains the likes of Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne, highlighted by his superb headed second against the Rossoneri.
Most importantly, though, Milik looks likely to be unfazed by the weight of a €35 million price tag and the pressure of following his illustrious Argentine predecessor.
With star and captain Robert Lewandowski failing to live up to expectations in France this summer, it was the Partenopei man who stepped up and helped steer his country to a first-ever European Championship quarter-final.
However, unlike at Euro 2016, it remains to be seen how he will react without the Bayern Munich hitman in close enough proximity and share the burden, should the going get tough on the peninsula.
What he will get, though, should he shoot Napoli to a first Scudetto since 1990, is instant hero status on a par with what most European nations could offer, and has certainly shown the attributes to do so.
