Conte has already made Hojlund decision for Man City | OneFootball

Reports in Italy claim that Antonio Conte has already decided on the majority of his team to face Manchester City in the first round of 2025-26 Champions League fixtures coming up this week, including Rasmus Hojlund, who is set to earn his second consecutive Partenopei start.

Napoli team news: Hojlund, De Bruyne, McTominay expected to start

Napoli return to the Champions League after a one-season absence, and get their campaign underway in difficult circumstances away against Manchester City at the Etihad on Thursday evening, kicking off at 20.00 BST.

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday, Conte is not expected to make too many alterations at all to his side that beat Fiorentina 3-1 in Serie A over the weekend.

FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SSC Napoli at Artemio Franchi on September 13, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

That is largely because their next Serie A match comes against newly-promoted Pisa on Monday night, which is perhaps a better opportunity to rotate and rest players, rather than the City clash on Thursday.

That means that the likes of Hojlund, Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay and Stanislav Lobotka are all expected to feature in the Napoli XI against Man City.

SASSUOLO, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli and teammate Scott McTominay pose for a photo at full-time following their victory in the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and SSC Napoli at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on August 23, 2025 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is also expected to keep his place in goal over Alex Meret, Sam Beukema should partner Alessandro Buongiorno at centre-back, and captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo is the expected starter at right-back.

One of the few positions that is still up for grabs is at left-back, where either Leonardo Spinazzola or Mathias Olivera could play against Man City.