Manchester City against Napoli - Lins -Ups, Statistics and Preview -

Overview of the match for Manchester City against Napoli

Kevin de Bruyne will return to a familiar environment this week while his new Napoli club will head to the Etihad stadium to face Manchester City during his phase clash in the Champions League of Champions on Thursday evening.

This is the first European meeting between the parties since the 2017-2018 group phase, when City triumphed at home, winning 6-3 on aggregates-including 2-1 success in Manchester.

City goes to the link at the rear of a 3-0 derby victory against Manchester United. After consecutive defeats in Tottenham and Brighton, the men of Pep Guardiola bounced with Phil Foden opening the scoring and Erling Haaland Net twice to seal the points an emotional afternoon dedicated to the icon of the club of the end Ricky Hatton.

Guardiola hopes victory will arouse a turnaround after a slow campaign start. City, in 2023, the winners of the Champions League, endured a phase of the poor League last season, finishing only 22nd in the 36 team table before going out in the eliminatory match against Real Madrid.

They have lost four of their last five UCL outings, but remain great at Etihad – unbeaten in 21 league or group games (W18 D3).

Their record on the opening days is also solid, with five victories and a draw of their last six.

Napoli is full of confidence. Antonio Conte’s team claimed its second crown of Serie A in three years last, and they started 2025-26 with three consecutive championship victories against Cagliari, Sassuolo and Fiorentina.

New recruits have managed to run – Rasmus Hojlund scored during the beginning against Fiorentina after Kevin de Bruyne converted an early penalty.

This season marks the ninth Napoli campaign in the Champions League. Conte manages the competition with a different fifth club after previous stays at Juventus, Chelsea, Inter and Tottenham.

Napoli has lost only three of his last 18 league / group phase games (W11 D4). However, their outside record against English teams is lamentable: D3 L9 out of 12 visits, including defeats against six different clubs.

Team news for Manchester City against Napoli

The city has several absent: Omar Marmoush (knee), Rayan Cherki (not disclosed), Rayan Ait-Nouri (ankle) and Mateo Kovacic (Achille) are sidelined, while John Stones is faced with a late fitness test after a muscular problem.

Guardiola can turn, with Rico Lewis, Nathan Ake, Nico Gonzalez, Oscar Bobb and Savinho who all grow for departures.

Haaland is certain to appear, to pursue its 50th goal in the Champions League. The Norwegian scored 49 in 48 appearances – with the 62 matches of Ruud Van Nistelrooy the current record rhythm of this landmark.

For Napoli, from Bruyne is ready for an emotional meeting with his former club after a decade in Manchester. The Belgian midfielder has already scored twice this season. However, Romelu Lukaku (knee) was excluded from the team, while Mir Rrahmani (ischio-legs), Nikita Contini (Main) and Alex Meret (muscle) are also missing.

Hojlund will compete with Lorenzo Lucca for the role of central attacker. The midfielder is likely to present Scott MCTOMINAY, the player of the year of Serie A in 2024-25, while Billy Gilmour may have to be satisfied with the bench.