Manchester City open their UEFA Champions League campaign by welcoming Napoli to the Etihad Stadium.
The major talking point around the game surrounds club legend Kevin de Bruyne returning to the club, after joining the Italian champions when his contract at City expired in June.
The Blues are fresh off the back of a comfortable victory on Derby Day and will have increased confidence after a mixed start to the Premier League season.
Here are five things to look out for on opening night in Europe:
The return of KDB
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 20: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City acknowledges the fans during a farewell presentation following the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on May 20, 2025 in Manchester, England. This match is to be Kevin De Bruyne’s last home match for Manchester City before he departs in the summer when his contract expires. De Bruyne, will receive a guard of honour from team-mates and staff after a successful 10-year career at the club seeing him win 6 leagues titles and the Champions League. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 20: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City acknowledges the fans during a farewell presentation following the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on May 20, 2025 in Manchester, England. This match is to be Kevin De Bruyne’s last home match for Manchester City before he departs in the summer when his contract expires. De Bruyne, will receive a guard of honour from team-mates and staff after a successful 10-year career at the club seeing him win 6 leagues titles and the Champions League. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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Arguably City’s greatest player of all time is back - and he’ll be looking to prove to City’s board why he deserved a new contract.
An angry De Bruyne is an unstoppable force, and he’ll be fuming on his return to the Etihad Stadium.
City leave large gaps in their midfield as pressing isn’t quite up to scratch yet with older bodies and new players bedding in, which the Belgian will be looking to exploit.
I worry that it’s written in the stars for De Bruyne to carry his team to victory on his return, and the City backline will need to be at its wariest to prevent the 34-year-old from wreaking havoc.
Players rested ahead of Arsenal
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Rodri of Manchester City and teammate Phil Foden run on as substitutes during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Rodri of Manchester City and teammate Phil Foden run on as substitutes during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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The game at the Emirates on Sunday is huge, and Pep Guardiola will be ensuring some of his key assets are fit for that game.
Josko Gvardiol and Phil Foden have just returned from injury, so will likely start on the bench against the Partenopei.
I also expect the likes of Rico Lewis, Nathan Ake, and Savinho to perhaps get some minutes, as Guardiola will want to rotate the squad to make his players happy.
Players with Serie A experience featuring
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Tijjani Reijnders of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Tijjani Reijnders of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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It can sometimes make a difference when a player plays against a team from a league they’re used to playing in - certainly if they’ve just joined their new team.
If you can’t tell, it’s Tijjani Reijnders I’m talking about. I’m convinced he’ll eventually come good again at City after a brilliant first game and an underwhelming subsequent three games, and Napoli might be the perfect opportunity for him.
Reijnders thrives with more time on the ball, which Napoli will give him. He can attack the box and score goals too, which could unpick their strong, organised backline, and his energy is very useful for pressing and will become even more so as he gets more familiar with the system.
And Gianluigi Donnarumma as a goalkeeper who last played in Serie A four years ago won’t make as much of a difference in that regard as Reijnders.
But he knows the way both Antonio Conte and Napoli sides tend to set up, and has already shown he’s excellent at organising his defence, so will significantly improve a somewhat shaky City defence.
Former United players haunting the Blues?
Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli and Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli during the Serie A football match between ACF Fiorentina and SSC Napoli at Artemio Franchi stadium. Florence (Italy), September 13th, 2025 (Photo by Elianton/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli and Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli during the Serie A football match between ACF Fiorentina and SSC Napoli at Artemio Franchi stadium. Florence (Italy), September 13th, 2025 (Photo by Elianton/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
Scott McTominay has quickly become a local hero in Naples, after carrying Napoli to a second Scudetto in three seasons last year.
He was awarded Serie A Player of the Season and even nominated for the Ballon D’Or after a fantastic campaign, all just months after he was deemed not good enough for… Manchester United.
The Reds hit a new low every season, and they could really do with McTominay’s attacking and physical presence in their side right now.
Rasmus Hojlund, another player to really struggle at Manchester United, has scored in his one and only Napoli appearance so far, after getting just four goals in 32 league appearances for United last season.
Both - like many before them - have found a new sense of freedom when leaving United. They’re both excellent players and could cause City a problem.
City aiming to get off on the right foot
Manchester City’s English midfielder #47 Phil Foden celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 14, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City’s English midfielder #47 Phil Foden celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 14, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
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The Blues have some tricky fixtures, including Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, so every point counts.
Napoli at home is one of the trickier games but it’s certainly winnable, and City will be definite favourites heading into it.
If the players can ignore the narratives surrounding De Bruyne and play largely as they did against United, they’ll be able to win.
But Napoli are a good team who can cause major problems for Guardiola’s side, if they show any of the same weaknesses as they did against Brighton and Tottenham.
A win isn’t imperative, but would certainly get City off to an excellent start in Europe.
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