SASSUOLO, ITALY - AUGUST 23: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli and teammate Scott McTominay pose for a photo at full-time following their victory in the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and SSC Napoli at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on August 23, 2025 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
SASSUOLO, ITALY - AUGUST 23: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli and teammate Scott McTominay pose for a photo at full-time following their victory in the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and SSC Napoli at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on August 23, 2025 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Kevin De Bruyne, Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay all start for Napoli in the Champions League opener, facing Gianluigi Donnarumma, Tijjani Reijnders and Erling Haaland’s Manchester City.
It kicks off at the Etihad City of Manchester Stadium at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
FLORENCE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 13: Rasmus Hojlund n celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SSC Napoli at Artemio Franchi on September 13, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Rasmus Hojlund n celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SSC Napoli at Artemio Franchi on September 13, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Antonio Conte and Napoli return to the Champions League, having missed out on Europe last season, allowing them to focus entirely on winning the Scudetto.
They have reinforced this summer with the arrival of players like Sam Beukema, Hojlund, and above all De Bruyne, who here returns to face his former teammates.
Romelu Lukaku is out for several months with a torn thigh muscle, which prompted the late signing of Hojlund from Manchester United.
Amir Rrahmani is also injured and Alex Meret not at 100 per cent, so Beukema and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic step into the Napoli XI.
Leonardo Spinazzola is a more attacking option for Napoli than Mathias Olivera at left-back.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City warms up prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City warms up prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Italy international Donnarumma was born near Naples, so this is as close as he could get to a homecoming start in the Champions League.
He already made an impressive debut for Manchester City in the 3-0 win over Manchester United at the weekend and is trying to win his second consecutive edition of this trophy after success with PSG.
Former Milan midfielder Reijnders also plays with Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden supporting centre-forward Haaland.
Pep Guardiola has a lot of injuries to deal with, missing Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, John Stones, Kalvin Phillips, Rayan Ait-Nouri and ex-Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
It has been a difficult start to the season for City, who won two Premier League games over Wolves and Manchester United, but lost to Tottenham and Brighton too.
They have a huge fixture coming up against Arsenal on Sunday, but nonetheless have zero squad rotation, using the same XI of the Manchester Derby.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 18: Tijani Reijnders of Manchester City looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Manchester City FC and Wydad AC at Lincoln Financial Field on June 18, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 18: Tijani Reijnders of Manchester City looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Manchester City FC and Wydad AC at Lincoln Financial Field on June 18, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Manchester City vs. Napoli line-ups
Manchester City: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Ruben Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Rodri; Bernardo Silva, Foden, Reijnders, Doku; Haaland
Manchester City bench: Trafford, Bettinelli, Ake, Nico Gonzalez, Savinho, Matheus Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni
Napoli: Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Buongiorno, Spinazzola; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Hojlund
Napoli bench: Meret, Ferrante, Gutierrez, Juan Jesus, Gilmour, Neres, Olivera, Elmas, Vergara, Lucca, Ambrosino, Lang
Ref: Zwayer (GER)
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