Napoli returned to winning form in emphatic fashion, beating AC Monza 4-1 at Stadio Brianteo to end a four-match wait for an away victory.

The result was only Napoli’s second win in their last nine Wednesday-held Serie A matches and improved a campaign that had seen them make their worst eight-game start to a top-flight season in 17 years.

Napoli began with purpose and took a deserved lead through Rasmus Hojlund. Giovanni Di Lorenzo drove forward from midfield before releasing a perfectly weighted pass, allowing Hojlund to shift the ball onto his left foot and finish into the bottom corner.

The visitors had opportunities to extend their advantage, with Matteo Politano and Mathias Olivera both going close. However, Monza gradually showed why they had developed a reputation for scoring regularly during the opening part of the season.

Foe Ondoa’s powerful effort clipped the base of the post on its way wide, while Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic was then forced into saves from Gustavo Varela’s next two attempts.

Milinkovic-Savic could not prevent Varela from equalising before the interval. Jay Robinson worked his way down the left and delivered towards the six-yard box, where Varela met the cross with a header that went inside the far post.

Monza’s momentum disappeared soon after the restart when a defensive error on the left handed possession to Politano. He burst into the penalty area and produced a delicate finish into the far corner to restore Napoli’s lead.

The visitors then took control. Politano’s corner found Rafa Marin, who glanced a header inside the far post to make it 3-1.

Kevin De Bruyne came on from the bench and completed the scoring after linking up with Noa Lang. He ran on to Lang’s through ball and finished between Noel Tornqvist’s legs, maintaining his impressive run of form.

The defeat was a particularly disappointing outcome for Monza, who had offered some early encouragement but were unable to prevent Napoli from pulling away after half-time. It also ended their hopes of building on their home momentum and left them with the worst start to a Serie A campaign in the club’s history.

Napoli’s much-needed victory puts them back among the contenders for European qualification. They remain 11 points behind runaway leaders Inter Milan and Lazio after nine matches.

Noa Lang was named Flashscore Man of the Match.