Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Napoli (UEFA Champions League) | OneFootball

Manchester City begin their European adventure for another season by welcoming the reigning Italian champions to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night.

Having recently returned from the first international break of the new season, Pep Guardiola and his players would have been eager to flip the switch on their concerning early season form when they took on Manchester United in their most-recent encounter.

And the performance against their bitter rivals was the exact sort of showing to inject life and enthusiasm into all those concerned with the club, reacting to consecutive defeats with a dominant 3-0 win over Ruben Amorim’s squad.

The visit of Antonio Conte’s Napoli will represent a much sterner test of Manchester City’s competitive credentials, with the Italians adopting a much more settled routine off the back of their top-flight triumph last campaign.

Now, boasting Kevin De Bruyne in their ranks as the legendary Belgian makes his first return to Manchester having left the club on a free transfer in the summer, Gli Azzurri will be somewhat confident of causing an upset this week.

City, for their part, will need to compete without a number of high-profile names, with Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Omar Marmoush, and Mateo Kovacic all sidelined, while it remains to be seen whether John Stones makes himself available following a minor muscle problem.

Ahead of Manchester City’s upcoming UEFA Champions League clash against Napoli, here is how we predict Pep Guardiola will line-up his side at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night!

Predicted XI

Starting in goal, and having put in a strong performance against Manchester United on his Manchester City debut, we believe there will be continuation between the posts with a second successive start for Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Right-back could see some change however, with Matheus Nunes slotting back into our predicted eleven and perhaps opening things up for a third successive alteration when City travel to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

Shifting into the centre of defence could be Abdukodir Khusanov, maintaining his place in the starting line-up off the back of an impressive showing last time out but taking on a slightly different role – partnered by Josko Gvardiol.

Completing the defensive unit and maintaining his place in the absence of Rayan Ait-Nouri, we believe it could be another start in one of the game’s biggest occasions for Academy graduate Nico O’Reilly – again, retaining the left-back slot.

Heading into midfield and we’re anticipating a minor change, with Rodri retaining his place at the base of a trio, supported by Nico – allowing for some rotation and rest for summer signing Tijjani Reijnders off the back of successive starts for the Dutchman.

An impressive showing from the No.10 role against Manchester City from Phil Foden should mean the 25-year-old retains his position in a similar role this week, coming up against his predecessor and inspiration, Kevin De Bruyne.

Moving into the attacking unit and we believe Savinho could return to the starting line-up after a brief appearance from the substitutes bench against Manchester United, replacing Bernardo Silva on the right of attack.

Erling Haaland will once again lead the line, as per standard procedure.

Over on the left, and after his impressive performance against Ruben Amorim’s side on Sunday, we think it could be a maintained place for Jeremy Doku – initially on the left of the attacking three.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Rodri, Nico, Foden; Savinho, Haaland, Doku.

Substitutes: Trafford, Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Stones, Mfuni, Dias, Ake, Reijnders, Bernardo, Mukasa, Bobb.