Napoli can look at Manchester City as equals on Kevin De Bruyne’s Ethiad return | OneFootball

Napoli travel to Manchester City to kick off their Champions League campaign and they will do so with the knowledge, that win is presently a reasonable expectation and not a surprise result. The headlines pre-game have naturally been about new signing Kevin De Bruyne’s return to the club where he spent a legendary decade. But make no mistake, even with the Belgian, Napoli are worse on paper. City can boast of not only Erling Haaland but also new signings like Tijjani Reijnders and Gianluigi Donnarumma with whom the Italians will be familiar.

Over the last year though, Napoli have by far been the more settled side, especially defensively. City boss Pep Guardiola was full of praise for his counterpart Antonio Conte, who has reinvigorated players like Scott McTominay and looks to be doing the same in another former Manchester United player in Rasmus Højlund.

De Bruyne himself has started the season in fantastic form and if he proves to be the difference later tonight, it will be a hard pill to swallow for City fans and a pat on the back for the Napoli board in their role in bringing him to the club.

Kaulik Mitra | GIFN