De Bruyne had a standout game, assisting Rasmus Hojlund's double. Ioannidis praised the Belgian midfielder, saying he is one of the best players he has ever seen.

"De Bruyne is an exceptional player," Ioannidis stated. "When you play against him, you must try to contain him. He was unstoppable in this match, but that's to be expected from a player of his caliber."

Sporting CP coach Rui Borges also recognized de Bruyne's impact on the game. He noted that the midfielder's quality makes a significant difference in Napoli's matches, and that he is one of the world's top players.