Manchester Metropolis and Napoli meet on the Etihad Stadium on Thursday in one of many standout fixtures of the Champions League’s opening League Part spherical.
Softfootball understands that the conflict will see Kevin De Bruyne return to Manchester simply three months after leaving Metropolis, the place he spent a decade, received 19 trophies, and have become one of many membership’s all-time greats. Now in Napoli colors, the Belgian is predicted to obtain a heat reception from followers who as soon as idolised him.
Manchester Metropolis’s type and motivation
Metropolis head into their first UCL conflict of the season following their 3-0 Manchester derby win over United, the place Phil Foden’s early strike and a brace from Erling Haaland secured victory on an emotional day marked by tributes to Ricky Hatton. This end result was essential after back-to-back league defeats to Tottenham and Brighton, which had raised questions on Guardiola’s aspect firstly of the season.
Final Sunday’s recreation was Metropolis’s second clear sheet of the season and might be credited to Donnarumma’s excellent debut for the Cityzens. The presence of the Italian goalkeeper within the squad can be an amazing enhance for Metropolis as they enter the Champions League part with Donnarumma’s expertise, having just lately received the competitors.
In Europe, Manchester Metropolis has underperformed just lately: final 12 months, they completed solely twenty second within the 36-team league part and have been eradicated by Actual Madrid within the knockout playoff. They’ve misplaced 4 of their final 5 UCL video games; nevertheless, their residence type stays a fortress, unbeaten in 21 League Part/group matches on the Etihad (18 wins, 3 attracts). Haaland, sitting on 49 Champions League objectives in 48 video games, is chasing one other milestone and can spearhead their assault once more.
Napoli’s type and resurgence
Napoli can be arriving in Manchester in glorious form underneath coach Antonio Conte, having begun their Serie A title defence with three straight wins in opposition to Cagliari, Sassuolo, and Fiorentina. De Bruyne has already scored twice since becoming a member of, together with a penalty final weekend, whereas fellow signing Rasmus Hojlund, who joined from Manchester United for a loan-buy deal, netted on his debut within the 3-1 win at Fiorentina. Napoli are not any strangers to the Champions League, however after lacking out final season for the primary time since 2009-10, they’re decided to make an influence.
Right here is De Bruyne’s penalty purpose in opposition to Fiorentina as proven on Napoli’s official X deal with:
Their document in Europe is stable with solely three defeats of their final 18 group-stage video games, however their Achilles heel stays journeys to England: they’ve by no means crushed an English workforce away, dropping 9 out of 12 such matches.
In the meantime, the English champions have secured two victories, whereas Napoli has received as soon as, and there was one draw, with all matches producing objectives for each side.
They first met in September 2011, which was additionally Metropolis’s very first Champions League fixture. On that event, Edinson Cavani struck first for Napoli earlier than Aleksandar Kolarov equalized with a superb free kick to seal a 1-1 draw on the Etihad. Within the reverse fixture two months later, Cavani was as soon as once more the difference-maker, scoring twice handy Napoli a 2-1 win in Italy. Mario Balotelli scored for Metropolis, however the defeat finally value them a spot within the knockout rounds, whereas Napoli superior.
The golf equipment wouldn’t meet once more till 2017, when Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis confronted them in one other group stage marketing campaign. Metropolis edged the house conflict 2-1 because of early objectives from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus earlier than finishing the double with an exciting 4-2 triumph in Naples. That night time was notably memorable as Sergio Agüero scored his record-breaking purpose to turn into Metropolis’s all-time main scorer.
In the meantime, Manchester Metropolis has shared an intriguing video to remind their followers forward of Thursday’s recreation through its official X deal with.
Right here is the snippet:
Crew information and predicted lineups
Metropolis can be with out Omar Marmoush, Mateo Kovacic, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and Rayan Cherki, whereas John Stones faces a late health take a look at. Guardiola could rotate with Rico Lewis, Nathan Aké, Nico González, Oscar Bobb, and Savinho pushing for begins, however Haaland is for certain to steer the road.
Napoli are lacking Romelu Lukaku, Amir Rrahmani, Nikita Contini, and Alex Meret, however Conte can name upon De Bruyne, McTominay, and Hojlund, with Politano and Anguissa providing attacking assist.
Pep Guardiola and Antione Conte have met solely seven instances, with the Metropolis supervisor recording solely three wins in opposition to his opposition, who had crushed him 4 instances. The primary time they met was in 2016 when Guardiola’s Metropolis met with Chelsea, which resulted in a 3-1 defeat. The final time was a lone purpose defeat by Metropolis in opposition to Tottenham.
Anticipated end result
Metropolis 3-1 Napoli
Doable line-up:
Manchester Metropolis: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rico Lewis, Ruben Dias, Abdukodir Khusanov, Josko Gvardiol, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku
Napoli: Alex Meret, Di Lorenzo, Sam Beukema, Alessandro Buongiorno, Leonardo Spinazzola, Stanislav Lobotka, Matteo Politano, Frank Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne, Scot McTominay, Rasmus Hojlund.
