Champions League
2025-09-18 - Manchester City vs Napoli
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League
Thursday 18th September 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester City
The big win in the Manchester derby was a fitting tribute to British legend Ricky Hatton, who was found dead on Sunday morning. This has also just turned things around for Manchester City after a couple of Premier League defeats and Pep Guardiola will be looking for a stronger Champions League campaign.
Last season Manchester City were beaten by Real Madrid in the Play Off Round of the Knock Out Stages having finished a lowly 22nd place in the League Phase of the competition. The side only won 2 of their 5 home games played in the Champions League, while Manchester City conceded two late goals in a 2-3 defeat here to Real Madrid on their way out of the Champions League.
Manchester City have won 7 of their last 10 games in all competitions following the comfortable victory over Manchester United on Sunday. The side have won 6 of their last 7 games at the Etihad Stadium, although the exception was the 0-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last month.
A number of Manchester City players remain on the sidelines, but that may not stop Pep Guardiola from making some changes with the Premier League fixture at Arsenal on deck.
Napoli
During a memorable era led by Diego Maradona, Napoli won the Serie A title twice in four years, but they surpassed that last season. It was the second League title in three years as Napoli found some late form to overtake Inter Milan and Antonio Conte's team have made a very positive start to the defence of the Championship.
Last season they were not playing European Football and that perhaps helped Napoli as they edged out Inter Milan by a single point. Antonio Conte's challenge is to balance domestic and European commitments, while also trying to show that he has the nous to lead a team in the top UEFA competition having had little success previously.
Napoli have won all 3 Serie A games played in the new season, including an impressive 1-3 win at Fiorentina this past weekend. They are not only unbeaten in 7 away games, but Napoli have won 4 of their last 5 on their travels. Napoli have lost 3 of their last 5 away Champions League games, although they have won the other couple of fixtures played in that run.
Romelu Lukaku remains on the sidelines so Rasmus Hojlund, formerly of Manchester United, could lead the formation.
Head to Head
This is the fifth competitive fixture between Napoli and Manchester City and the third time the latter will be hosting.
In the previous two games in Manchester, Napoli have drawn once and been beaten in the other.
Prediction
The momentum will feel like it is back behind Manchester City after the crushing win in the derby, but this squad is still in something of a transition.
Pep Guardiola will have been happy with the performance of his team, but will also know that Manchester United had a helping hand in the final result.
He cannot expect Napoli to be as generous with Antonio Conte's tactical style, although there is a challenge for the Italian manager who has yet to have a big impact at the Champions League level. His team have made a very positive start to the new season, which will really help the confidence, but Napoli will note that this is a considerable test for them at the home of an English Premier League club.
The first goal does feel like it could be very important in the outcome of this match- if Napoli fall behind, it could be a really tough night in the office, but there are spaces that the Italian Champions can exploit.
Napoli's defensive performances were key to their title success, and they have only conceded a single goal in the opening three League matches.
Antonio Conte will have noted the success Inter Milan had in their opening Champions League in Manchester twelve months ago when holding City to a goalless draw. He should have Napoli well set up and they can counter successfully enough to avoid a big defeat in this opening League Phase fixture.
Manchester City only won 2 of the 5 home Champions League games last season and they may just have a few more issues breaking down Napoli.
Kevin De Bruyne will be given a fond welcome from the home fans, and he can perhaps inspire Napoli to earn a good result here.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester City 1-1 Napoli
