Man City v Napoli live: Kevin De Bruyne returns to former club for Champions League clash

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The Independent

·18. September 2025

Man City v Napoli live: Kevin De Bruyne returns to former club for Champions League clash

Conte hoping De Bruyne remembers to play for Napoli in Man City return

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Manchester City host Napoli in their opening match of their Champions League campaign as Pep Guardiola’s men face a tricky tie against the Italian champions.

City have had a mellow start to the season but a confidence-boosting 3-0 win over Manchester United last Sunday puts them in a strong place ahead of this clash which will feature former City captain Kevin de Bruyne.

De Bruyne joined Napoli in the summer after spending 10 years at City where he won six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023. He has made a fine start to his time in Serie A with two goals in three games and Antonio Conte is hoping the playmaking midfielder can tilt tonight’s match in favour of the Italian side.

English clubs have started strongly in the European top flight this year with Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool all securing victories this week and only Chelsea dropping points as they lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Napoli team news

Meanwhile, Napoli line up pretty much as expected.

There’s a real Manchester feel to their attackers. Kevin De Bruyne starts as we thought, ex Man United midfielder Scott McTominay is also playing and Man United loanee Rasmus Hojlund is up top

Napoli XI: Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Buongiorno, Spinazzola; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Hojlund

Luke Baker18 September 2025 19:02

Etihad getting ready for tonight's clash

The Etihad is starting to warm up ahead of Man City’s clash with Napoli this evening

(Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

(Nick Potts/PA Wire)

(Action Images via Reuters)

Luke Baker18 September 2025 18:35

Antonio Conte seeks Kevin De Bruyne insights ahead of Man City test

Napoli coach Antonio Conte has sought advice from Kevin De Bruyne as his team of “students” come up against the “teachers” of Manchester City.

Conte led his side to Serie A glory last season – the club’s second Scudetto in three years – but in terms of the Champions League, he still considers them novices.

De Bruyne has started well in Naples, scoring twice in his first three appearances in Serie A, and now Napoli begin their latest campaign in Europe’s elite competition at City, winners in 2023, and Conte is leaning on De Bruyne for help.

Conte, the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss, said: “It’s always been very careful preparation for every single match, we’re not doing anything particularly different, but I’ve spoken to Kevin. I’ve asked him a few things.

“He’s been a part of this club for 10 years and had a great coach like Pep Guardiola.

“Kevin will be excited to be playing but I’m hoping that after the starting whistle he will find his feet and remember he’s playing for our great Napoli and contribute like he has been doing.”

Antonio Conte seeks Kevin De Bruyne insights ahead of Man City test

Napoli face the 2023 winners in their opening Champions League tie.

Luke Baker18 September 2025 18:15

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s bid to make history at Man City after going unappreciated in Paris

Gianluigi Donnarumma was smiling as he said it. It would be best, he suggested, if his mother stays away from Manchester City against Napoli.

“My mum is a bit in trouble,” he said. A huge fan of the Serie A champions, her loyalties could be divided. So, perhaps, in future, could those of his young son, Leo. “I think he is going to be a true Neapolitan,” said Donnarumma.

The captain of Italy grew up idolising Gianluigi Buffon and was a prodigy of AC Milan, but he hails from Castellammare di Stabia, on the Gulf of Naples.

The temptation is to assume that the less picturesque parts of Manchester could come as a culture shock to City’s latest signing. For now, though, he exudes happiness. “It’s an honour and a pride to be here,” said a man who traded the Champions League winners, in Paris Saint-Germain, for a club who limped out of the competition without reaching the last 16 a few months ago.