Manchester City begin their UEFA Champions League campaign with a tricky league phase opener against Napoli.
Man City qualified for this stage by finishing third in last season’s Premier League, whilst Napoli won Serie A to book their spot in this stage of the competition.
Team News
Man City could again be without Marcus Bettinelli (knock) and John Stones (muscle) after the pair missed their Premier League victory at home to Manchester United.
Kalvin Phillips (Achilles), Rayan Cherki (hamstring), Omar Marmoush (unspecified), Rayan Ait-Nouri (ankle) and Mateo Kovacic (Achilles) are ruled out.
Napoli will have ex Man City midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne available as the Belgian faces his former club for the first time since his departure in May.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Napoli at Etihad Stadium on Thursday 18 September at 8pm BST, live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City have avoided defeat in three of their four previous Champions League meetings against Napoli (W2, D1, L1).
- Napoli are yet to win away to Man City following two previous visits (D1, L1), as they drew 1-1 in September 2011 then lost 2-1 in October 2017.
- Neither Man City nor Napoli kept a clean sheet in their four previous Champions League meetings.
- Since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2016-17 season, Man City are yet to suffer defeat at home to Italian opposition (W2, D1).
- De Bruyne has scored in each of Napoli’s two away games in all competitions this season (W2).
Prediction
Having comfortably dispatched Man Utd in a clinical home display after two worrying defeats before the international break, Man City now need to produce more of the same quality if are to have definitely put that early wobble behind them ahead of their league trip to Arsenal on Sunday.
Napoli though have have a familiar face in De Bruyne who knows exactly what City will throw at them – whilst Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund has the oppositional perspective from their time at Utd, which will benefit them a bit in terms of experience.
Napoli though are unbeaten so far this season with just one goal conceded so City will need to be absolutely clinical if want a result here, but I do think that Napoli will be able to grind out a point such is their squad quality at present.
Prediction: Man City 1-1 Napoli
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