Napoli head to Manchester: facing European hoodoos and De Bruyne’s past | OneFootball

The Azzurri return to the Champions League after over a year: they debut against Manchester City at the Etihad, with statistics to improve, illustrious former players, and Conte's ambitions.

Napoli in Manchester, challenging European taboos and De Bruyne's past

Napoli's last appearance in the Champions League dates back to March 12, 2024, when the team - then led by Francesco Calzona - was eliminated in the round of 16 by Barcelona, with a 3-1 defeat in the second leg. Since then, the bench, players, and prospects have changed: the only common thread remains the championship badge sewn on their chest.

Thursday evening, at the Etihad, the Azzurri will return to the European stage facing Manchester City of Erling Haaland, reigning Premier League champions.

De Bruyne, immediately against his past

Fate has decreed that Kevin De Bruyne should immediately cross paths with his former team. With the City shirt, the Belgian has made 422 appearances and scored 108 goals, becoming one of the symbols of the Guardiola era and winning the Champions League in 2023.

"With him, a part of us leaves: he is one of the greatest players ever to have played not only for City, but in the entire Premier League," Guardiola said at the time of his farewell.

Now, under the guidance of Antonio Conte, De Bruyne seems already fully integrated: in three seasonal appearances he has totaled 240 minutes and two goals, giving quality and continuity to the Azzurri midfield.

Azzurri certainties: solid defense and a growing Højlund

Napoli arrives at the challenge with high morale: full score in the league and a defense that has conceded only one goal in the early rounds, moreover when the result was already acquired against Fiorentina (1-3).

In attack, Rasmus Højlund has confirmed that he is the right man for Conte: scoring in Florence with the 2-0 goal, the Dane will have extra motivation against City, considering his past at Manchester United. Statistical curiosity: in the Premier he has never scored against the Citizens and will have the opportunity to break this taboo as well.

Conte and the complicated relationship with the Champions

For Antonio Conte, Europe remains an open challenge. The numbers tell of 42 benches in the Champions League with Juventus, Chelsea, Inter and Tottenham: 15 wins, 14 draws and 13 losses.

Best result: quarter-finals with Juventus in 2012/13.

Disappointments: group stage eliminations with Juve and Inter, round of 16 exits with Chelsea and Tottenham.

The Manchester challenge will therefore also be a personal test for the coach from Lecce, determined to give a new European dimension to his Napoli.

A debut that already weighs heavily

The draw was not the easiest: in the new League Phase, the Azzurri will face City and Chelsea on the first and last day. Starting well at the Etihad would mean not only banishing the ghosts of the past, but also immediately sending a strong signal to Europe.

For Conte's Napoli, the 2025/26 Champions League begins uphill, but also with many certainties and the will to transform taboos into new opportunities.

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