Man City Manchester City

Napoli Napoli

WHEN AND WHERE

Pep Guardiola and his team will begin our European campaign with a home clash against Italian outfit Napoli, which will also see us welcome back Kevin De Bruyne to the Etihad.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 (UK) on Thursday 18 September, with the game available to watch live on TNT Sports 2, Discovery+ and Amazon Prime Video for fans in the UK.

Supporters from around the world can find out where to tune in live at the foot of this page, via our global TV listings, courtesy of livesoccertv.com.

Like always, you can also follow all the action from across the afternoon on mancity.com and our official app, as well as all the key moments on X: @ManCity.

Next Fixture

All fixtures

Thu 18 Sep

Champions League

Man City

20:00

BST

Napoli

press conference

Pep Guardiola was asked if City were among the favourites for the Champions League in his prematch news conference.

“Apparently we are not,” he said. “And just enjoy the moment, the journey, we are happy to be here.

“In the past we have been but just won one. That’s a lot, for the difficulty and just focus on the game tomorrow, the game we have to play.

“We have to start well this competition there’s more games than previous seasons but if you start with a bad result it’s always more difficult. We drew last season against Inter, hopefully we can get a better result.”

Team news

Manchester City have named an unchanged side for Thursday’s opening 2025/26 UEFA Champions League clash at home to Napoli.

Pep Guardiola has opted to again go with the eleven players that began last Sunday’s hugely impressive 3-0 derby win against Manchester United for our opening League Phase clash against the Italian champions.

There’s a mixture of experience of youth on the City bench with Academy youngsters Divine Mukasa and Stephen Mfuni again named amongst the substitutes alongside the likes of Nathan Ake, Matheus Nunes and Nico Gonazalez.

Teams

CITY XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodrigo, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Haaland

Subs: Trafford, Bettenelli, Ake, Nico, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni.

NAPOLI: Milinkovic-Savic, Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Lobotka, Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay, Hojlund.

Subs: Meret, Ferrante, Gutierrez, Juan Jesus, Gilmour, Neres, Olivera, Elmas, Vergara, Lucca, Lang, Ambrosino

OPPOSING MANAGER - ANTONIO CONTE

It’s been a fantastic debut season at the helm of Napoli for Antonio Conte. The Italian was appointed Head Coach in June 2024 and led his team to the Serie A title, their fourth in the Club’s history.

But for Conte, the Italian top-flight is nothing new to him. It was his ninth Serie A win as a player and manager. 

This season, however, he’ll be looking to add the Champions League to his managerial honours list, having experienced winning the prestigious competition as a Juventus player in 1995/96. 

Conte’s sides are difficult to penetrate, with this season’s results proving that to be the case. Napoli have conceded just one goal in three games. But at the other end of the pitch, they are just as tricky to deal with, netting six in those same three games. 

Conte’s set-up will definitely keep City on our toes on Thursday evening. 

DANGER MEN

The Gli Azzurri have a handful of familiar faces. But the one best known to City is our former midfield maestro, Kevin De Bruyne.

His talent is hard to put into words. And he will likely be a key catalyst for Napoli, initiating attacks with his passing. The 34-year-old has featured in all three Serie A games and has scored two goals. 

He could feature alongside former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, who scored 12 goals and assisted six in 34 league appearances. 

Former United striker Rasmus Hojlund, who has joined Napoli on loan, is off the mark for his new team, scoring in their 3-1 win over Fiorentina, and will be looking to cause City’s backline problems throughout the evening. 

PREVIOUS MEETING

Our last encounter with Napoli dates back to 2017/18 in the previous iteration of the Champions League format. 

City won both Group F games, 2-1 at home before a 4-2 triumph at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. 

Lorenzo Insigne gave Napoli the lead before Nicolas Otamendi’s header drew us level. We then took the lead through a John Stones headed effort with Jorginho levelling the playfield from the penalty spot. 

Late goals from Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling confirmed victory for our boys in blue.

LAST TIME OUT

After the September international break, City returned to action with our 197th Manchester derby.

Phil Foden headed home to give Guardiola’s side a deserved lead before a second-half brace from Erling Haaland, in his 150th appearance for the Club, secured bragging rights for City. 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Felix Zwayer GER

Assistant referees: Robert Kempter GER, Christian Dietz GER

Fourth official: Florian Badstübner GER

Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER

Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER

GLOBAL TV LISTINGS

Supporters around the world can find out how to tune in to the match live by clicking here, courtesy of livesoccertv.com. 

(List correct as of Wednesday 17 September)