Manchester City vs Napoli: Latest City injury news and predicted City starting eleven ahead of tonight’s match | OneFootball

Manchester City begin their UEFA Champions League campaign tonight at the Etihad Stadium when they host Napoli. Pep Guardiola’s side will be eager to start their 25/26 Champions League campaign with a victory. They’ll face a tough test against a Napoli side packed with quality. Antonio Conte’s side is one of the top sides in Europe and will pose a significant challenge for City to solve. Kevin De Bruyne returns to the Etihad Stadium for the first time as a Napoli player. He’ll be determined to prove a point after Manchester City let him leave the club at the end of last season.

Here is the latest City injury news and my predicted City starting eleven ahead of tonight’s match.

Latest City injury news.

Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Mateo Kovacic will all miss tonight’s match due to injury. However, Pep Guardiola revealed that Mateo Kovacic is edging closer to returning. The Croatian midfielder had Achilles surgery at the end of last season, which has kept him out of action this season.

John Stones was pictured training with his teammates yesterday. The England international missed Manchester City’s win over Manchester United. The fact that he trained is good news for Manchester City, who will need as many players available as possible to contend with a busy fixture list.

Predicted Manchester City starting eleven.

Gianluigi Donnarumma: It would be a major surprise if Donnarumma didn’t start tonight’s match. The Italian international seems certain to start in goal tonight.

Rico Lewis: I think Khusanov will be rested for Sunday’s clash with Arsenal. If that occurs, I expect Rico Lewis to start at right-back.

Ruben Dias: Dias’s leadership will be crucial tonight. It will be on Ruben Dias to ensure that City’s defence plays as it did against Manchester United.

Nathan Ake: Ake hasn’t started a game this season, and that could change tonight. I’d be surprised if Gvardiol started two games in quick succession, so Ake could start at centre-back.

Nico O’Reilly: O’Reilly played well at left-back against Manchester United. He should start again tonight.

Nico: The Spanish midfielder did start the season well. He hasn’t started City’s last two matches since Rodri returned to the starting lineup. Nico is my pick to start in midfield.

Tijjani Reijnders: The Dutch international seems like a lock to start against Napoli.

Phil Foden: I’m hoping Foden starts in midfield tonight to carry on from his strong derby display.

Oscar Bobb: The Norwegian international is my pick to start on the right wing.

Jeremy Doku: Doku was brilliant in the derby and the left wing seems to his spot to lose for now.

Erling Haaland: Haaland will start up front and if he can play as he did against United he will set the tone for his team against a tough Napoli outfit.