Champions League: Napoli open at Man City, finish vs Chelsea | OneFootball

Napoli knows its path in the new 2025/26 Champions League. UEFA has announced the dates and times of the League Phase, which will kick off in mid-September and conclude at the end of January.

Champions League, Napoli's Schedule: Debut in Manchester, Closing with Chelsea at Maradona

The Azzurri will debut away against Manchester City and will close the regular phase in front of their home crowd against Chelsea.

The Debut: Manchester City-Napoli

Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025

Time: 21:00

Stadium: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

A challenging start for Conte's men, who will immediately face Guardiola's team.

All Napoli Matches in the League Phase 1st Matchday

Manchester City – Napoli September 18, 2025, 21:00 – Etihad Stadium

2nd Matchday

Napoli – Sporting CP October 1, 2025, 21:00 – Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

3rd Matchday

PSV – Napoli October 21, 2025, 21:00 – Philips Stadion

4th Matchday

Napoli – Eintracht Frankfurt November 4, 2025, 18:45 – Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

5th Matchday

Napoli – Qarabag November 25, 2025, 21:00 – Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

6th Matchday

Benfica – Napoli December 10, 2025, 21:00 – Estádio da Luz

7th Matchday

Copenhagen – Napoli January 20, 2026, 21:00 – Parken Stadium

8th Matchday

Napoli – Chelsea January 28, 2026, 21:00 – Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Key Challenges and the Maradona Factor

Three crucial home games: against Sporting CP, Eintracht, and Qarabag, Napoli must capitalize to secure qualification before the two most challenging away games: Lisbon (December 10) and Copenhagen (January 20). The closing match with Chelsea could prove decisive for the final standings.

The New Format: How the League Phase Works

The 2025/26 Champions League adopts a single group format: each team plays eight matches (four at home and four away) against different opponents. The top eight teams go directly to the round of 16, while teams from ninth to twenty-fourth place will compete for access to the round of 16 through a playoff.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.