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Manchester City start their UEFA Champions League campaign at home to Serie A champions Napoli on September 18.
Pep Guardiola's side have endured a mixed start to the 2025/26 Premier League season with two wins and two losses so far, including a superb 3-0 weekend derby win over Manchester United.
That victory over United has piled yet more pressure on Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim, while Guardiola will be hoping to use it as a springboard for the incoming busy schedule.
Napoli have not missed a step so far in their Scudetto title defence with three wins from three games for Antonio Conte and just one goal conceded.
MORE: Champions League fixtures 2025/26: Matchday schedule, results for UCL games this season
Man City vs. Napoli lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Guardiola did not flag up any fresh injury concerns after the win over United and he is unlikely to rotate too much due to an existing absentee list at the Etihad Stadium.
Omar Marmoush and Mateo Kovacic are both out until October with summer signing Rayan Cherki sidelined until November with a thigh issue.
Left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri is still struggling with an ankle injury and is not expected to be risked ahead of a trip to Arsenal this weekend, but John Stones could be fit enough for a spot on the bench.
Gianluigi Donnarumma will make his UCL debut for City, just three months after winning the trophy with PSG, while Rico Lewis could replace Abdukodir Khusanov at right-back.
Man City predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly — Rodri, Reijnders — Silva, Foden, Doku — Haaland.
Injured: Kovacic (Achilles), Cherki (thigh), Marmoush (knee), Phillips (Achilles), Ait-Nouri (ankle), Bettinelli (knock, doubt)
Suspended: None
Romelu Lukaku remains the main injury absence for Napoli with the Belgium international out until December with a serious hamstring tear.
However, the big story of the night will be the return of Kevin De Bruyne to the Etihad, after City's former captain joined Napoli on a free transfer this summer. The 34-year-old has been excellent so far for Conte, with two goals in three games, and he will get a rousing reception from the home fans.
Man United loanee Rasmus Hojlund will feel the love a little less on his return to Manchester. He completed a season-long switch to Naples to link up with fellow former Red Devil Scott McTominay, and he scored on his debut against Fiorentina last weekend.
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic started that 3-1 league win as Alex Meret had a muscle issue, but the latter has returned to training, so Conte will have a decision to make in goal.
Napoli predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Milinkovic-Savic (GK) — Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Buongiorno, Spinazzola — Lobotka, De Bruyne — Politano, Anguissa, McTominay — Hojlund
Injured: Lukaku (hamstring), Rrahmani (thigh), Meret (muscle, doubt)
Suspended: None
Man City vs. Napoli match details
- Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 5 a.m. AEST (Sep. 19)
- Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Competition: UEFA Champions League league phase Matchday 1
- Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)
- VAR: Christian Dingert (GER)
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