Manchester City vs Napoli: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

• Man City tipped to kick-off their Champions League campaign with a win

• Kevin De Bruyne returns to the Etihad just months after leaving the place he called home for 10 seasons

• Former Man United player Scott McTominay will be a focal point for Antonio Conte's Serie A champions

Explore Bwin’s detailed preview for Manchester City vs Napoli in the Champions League. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 20:00 BST match.

• Fixture: Manchester City vs Napoli

• Date: Thursday, 18 September 2025

• Kick-off: 20:00 BST

• Venue: Etihad Stadium

Match Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Napoli

Manchester City, despite recent domestic setbacks, will look to assert their dominance in the Champions League. Their ability to secure convincing victories, as seen in their 4-0 win against Wolverhampton and 3-0 against Man United, suggests they can still produce high-quality football.

Napoli, on the other hand, have been in excellent form, winning all their recent matches, including a tight 3-2 victory against Girona. This game could see Napoli's disciplined approach tested against City's attacking prowess.

The match is likely to be a tactical battle, with Manchester City aiming to exploit their home advantage. Napoli's recent wins indicate a solid defensive structure that could challenge City's forwards. However, City's capacity for high-scoring games might just tip the scales in their favour. Expect a closely contested match with moments of brilliance from both sides.

Manchester City's recent form has been inconsistent, with two losses in their last three Premier League games. However, their convincing wins against Wolverhampton and Man United show they can still dominate when at their best.

These victories suggest that City have the firepower to overcome Napoli, provided they can regain their rhythm and confidence.

Recent Results (all competitions):

• Win: 3-0 vs Manchester United (H) - Premier League

• Loss: 1-2 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (A) - Premier League

• Loss: 0-2 vs Tottenham Hotspur (H) - Premier League

• Win: 4-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) - Premier League

Napoli have been in superb form, winning all their recent matches across various competitions. Their ability to secure narrow victories demonstrates a strong defensive organisation. This could be crucial against a potent Manchester City attack. Napoli's consistent performance suggests they are well-prepared to challenge City, even away from home.

Recent Results (all competitions):

• Win: 3-1 vs Fiorentina (A) - Serie A

• Win: 1-0 vs Cagliari (H) - Serie A

• Win: 2-0 vs Sassuolo (A) - Serie A

• Mateo Kovačić (Achilles) - Out

• Rayan Cherki (Thigh) - Out

• Marcus Bettinelli (Knock) - Doubt

• Kalvin Phillips - Achilles) - Doubt

• Rico Lewis (Discomfort) - Doubt

• Savinho (Knock) - Doubt

• Joško Gvardiol (Knock) - Doubt

• Romelu Lukaku (Hamstring) - Out

• Amir Rrahmani (Hamstring) - Doubt

• David Neres (Muscle) - Doubt

• Miguel Gutiérrez (Ankle) - Doubt

• Predicted lineup: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, O'Reilly, Rodri, Silva, Reijnders, Foden, Haaland, Doku

Manchester City's predicted lineup will need to focus on maintaining possession and breaking down Napoli's defence. The absence of Kovačić will necessitate adjustments in midfield to ensure they can control the game's tempo.

• Predicted lineup: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus, Spinazzola, Lobotka, Anguissa, De Bruyne, Politano, McTominay, Lucca

Napoli's predicted lineup will likely prioritise a solid defensive structure to counter Manchester City's attacking threats. Their recent form indicates they can effectively manage games and capitalise on counter-attacking opportunities. De Bruyne will relish his return to Manchester.

• Erling Haaland vs Juan Jesus: Haaland's goalscoring prowess will be tested against the centre back’s defensive solidity.

• Bernardo Silva vs Stanislav Lobotka: Silva's creativity will face a stern challenge from Lobotka's midfield control.

• Rodri (Manchester City): Rodri’s versatility and calm approach could be key in unlocking Napoli's defence.

• Kevin de Bruyne (Napoli): De Bruyne’s superb passing ability will be crucial for Napoli's counter-attacks.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.