Man City and Napoli will start their Champions League campaigns on a Thursday this year, with both teams set to face each other on 18/09/2025.
Both teams come into the match with a spring in their steps, with the hosts still buzzing from their 3-0 Manchester derby victory and Napoli at the very top of their game after a perfect start in Serie A.
As part of this week's round of Champions League betting tips, check out our Man City vs Napoli prediction below.
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Man City vs Napoli prediction: A ‘shock' on the cards
Key Stats
- Napoli have won six matches in a row, if you include pre-season friendlies.
- Man City have already lost two matches this season.
- More than two goals have been scored in three of Man City's four competitive matches this season.
Correct score prediction: Man City 1-2 Napoli
Last season, Napoli won their second Serie A crown in three years, and so far this season, they look as if they have gone up a level or two. Although Antonio Conte's record in the Champions League isn't the best, he does have a good record against Man City with four wins in seven matches.
Pre-game odds and win probability: City start as favourites
- HOME: 13/20 (1.65) – 60.6%
- DRAW: 3/1 (4.00) – 25%
- AWAY: 4/1 (5.00) – 20%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The Man City vs Napoli odds are perhaps a little disrespectful towards a team that are the reigning Serie A champions. Ladbrokes have given Man City a 60.6% chance of winning the match, while Napoli have been given just a 20% chance of victory.
Meanwhile, BegMGM have a promo code on offer that can be taken advantage of for this match and all other Champions League matches this week.
You can find all our predictions for today's games on our football betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: A first meeting in eight years
Man City and Napoli haven't faced off since 2017, when they met in the group stages of the Champions League. Back then, Man City were widely considered the best team in Europe, but that isn't the case anymore. Over the two matches played in the 17/18 group stages, the English side won 2-1 at home and 4-2 in Naples.
Man City preview: Guardiola to rotate
Pep Guardiola will likely shuffle his pack after the Manchester derby in a bid to ensure no more of his players go down with an injury. The Spaniard is already without five first-team players – Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Mateo Kovacic and John Stones – so the likes of Oscar Bobb and Nico Gonzalez could get a start here.
Predicted lineup: Donnarumma (GK), Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, Ake, Rodri, Gonzalez, Bobb, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Last five results
- Man City 3-0 Man Utd
- Brighton 2-1 Man City
- Man City 0-2 Tottenham
- Wolves 0-4 Man City
- Palermo 0-3 Man City
Napoli preview: The return of King Kev
Kevin de Bruyne will return to a stadium where he has a statue outside this week when he takes on his former club. De Bruyne should receive a brilliant reception on his return but two players who won't are former Man Utd duo, Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay.
Predicted lineup: Milinkovic-Savic (GK), Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Lobotka, Anguissa, Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay, Hojlund
Last five results
- Fiorentina 1-3 Napoli
- Napoli 1-0 Cagliari
- Sassuolo 0-2 Napoli
- Napoli 2-1 Olympiacos
- Napoli 4-0 Sorrento
Player to watch: Scott McTominay
Scott McTominay has previous against Man City, once scoring from the halfway line in a Manchester derby triumph over the Cityzens. The Scotland midfielder has been a revelation at Napoli, but this will be his first opportunity to show English fans how his game has evolved since making the move to Serie A.
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