Rasmus Hojlund’s topsy-turvy time at Naples recently saw another high after a low, as his connection with Romelu Lukaku powered Napoli to a much-needed win.
Napoli had hit a bit of a snag in recent weeks, slipping to the extent that they could be out of UEFA Champions League qualification spots.
Rasmus Hojlund wasn’t faring any better in the team-wide malaise, getting caught in a cold streak despite some big claims of being a different player now.
However, the return of another ex-Man Utd man, Romelu Lukaku, has been the catalyst for their recent win, with Hojlund earning the “magical” moniker.
Rasmus Hojlund of Napoli and Tobias Slotsager of Verona contest a header during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026
Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images
Did Manchester United make a mistake sending Rasmus Hojlund on loan?
Rasmus Hojlund fires Napoli to victory
Napoli were in a three-game winless streak coming into the away game against Verona, as the chasing pack for UCL qualification closed the distance.
So, when Hojlund scored in just the second minute, it calmed a lot of nerves in Antonio Conte’s team.
Hojlund was rated the man of the match in Napoli’s 2-1 victory against Verona, sealed by Lukaku’s late, late equaliser in 90+6.
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He missed one big chance, but was otherwise on target with both his shots, having 38 touches of the ball in a more complete performance than he was putting in recently.
The most notable part about his performance was his combativeness, as he won 6/7 aerial duels to unsettle the Verona defence and keep Napoli in the game. [Stats courtesy FotMob]
The Italian press were very complimentary of Hojlund’s efforts, calling it ‘magical’ on a day when he praised his blossoming partnership with Lukaku.
Italian press on Hojlund vs Verona
The Italian press have covered Hojlund’s exploits in Naples regularly as he began the season on fire, eager to prove his doubters wrong.
After Napoli’s 2-1 win marked somewhat of a return to form for the Dane, the press lavished praise on him.
EuroSport Italian rated Hojlund 7/10, summing up his performance in three words – Ready, steady, and scoring.
They praised his “magical” effort during the game, calling him ‘unlucky’ that he scored just once because his performance merited more.
Tuttomercatoweb covered “enigmatic” Hojlund’s reaction after the game, where he called out those people who stopped watching at 90+3, since Napoli scored at 90+6.
La Repubblica talked about Hojlund’s and Lukaku’s “scream” as the latter celebrated with passion after scoring and remembering his late father who passed away in September.
Pianeta Napoli covered Hojlund’s quotes after the game, as he said that he wants to score “as many goals as Lukaku”, adding that he’s learning a lot from the Belgian.
Stylo24 called Hojlund “brilliant”, writing that he had a “devastating impact” on the game as he continued his “excellent form”.
Napoli will need Hojlund to continue that form as they host Torino next on March 6 in the race to get UCL qualification next season.
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