Manchester City start their UEFA Champions League campaign at home to Serie A champions Napoli on September 18.
Pep Guardiola's side have endured a mixed start to the 2025/26 Premier League season with two wins and two losses so far, including a superb 3-0 weekend derby win over Manchester United.
That victory over United has piled yet more pressure on Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim, while Guardiola will be hoping to use it as a springboard for the incoming busy schedule.
Napoli have not missed a step so far in their Scudetto title defence with three wins from three games for Antonio Conte and just one goal conceded.
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Man City vs. Napoli lineups: Confirmed starting XI, team news, injury latest
Guardiola did not flag up any fresh injury concerns after the win over United, and he names an unchanged side from the derby win.
Gianluigi Donnarumma makes his UCL debut for City, just three months after winning the trophy with PSG, while Abdukodir Khusanov keeps his spot at right-back.
Omar Marmoush and Mateo Kovacic are both out until October with summer signing Rayan Cherki sidelined until November with a thigh issue. Left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri is still struggling with an ankle injury and is not expected to be risked ahead of a trip to Arsenal this weekend, and John Stones is still absent.
Man City starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly — Rodri, Reijnders — Silva, Foden, Doku — Haaland.
Man City subs: Trafford, Ake, Bettinelli, Nico Gonzalez, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni
Injured: Kovacic (Achilles), Cherki (thigh), Marmoush (knee), Phillips (Achilles), Ait-Nouri (ankle), Stones (undisc.)
Suspended: None
Romelu Lukaku remains the main injury absence for Napoli with the Belgium international out until December with a serious hamstring tear.
However, the big story of the night will be the return of Kevin De Bruyne to the Etihad, after City's former captain joined Napoli on a free transfer this summer. The 34-year-old has been excellent so far for Conte, with two goals in three games, and he will get a rousing reception from the home fans.
Man United loanee Rasmus Hojlund will feel the love a little less on his return to Manchester. He completed a season-long switch to Naples to link up with fellow former Red Devil Scott McTominay, and he scored on his debut against Fiorentina last weekend.
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic started that 3-1 league win as Alex Meret had a muscle issue, and the former keeps his place in goal.
Napoli starting XI (4-1-4-1, right to left): Milinkovic-Savic (GK) — Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Buongiorno, Spinazzola — Lobotka — Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay — Hojlund
Napoli subs: Meret, Gutierrez, Jesus, Gilmour, Neres, Olivera, Elmas, Ferrante, Vergara, Lucca, Ambrosino, Lang
Injured: Lukaku (hamstring), Rrahmani (thigh)
Suspended: None
Man City vs. Napoli match details
- Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 5 a.m. AEST (Sep. 19)
- Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Competition: UEFA Champions League league phase Matchday 1
- Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)
- VAR: Christian Dingert (GER)