Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Man City
Match Time & Date:
18 September 2025
20:00
Prediction: 2-1
Napoli
After rolling over Manchester United 3-0 in the local derby, Manchester City will look to kickstart their Champions League campaign in style when they face Napoli on Thursday evening. The Citizens have regained a much-needed confidence and with key attacker Erling Haaland finding his goal-scoring touch, home win should definitely be considered. Pacey winger Savinho is pushing for a start, while centre-back John Stones is a major doubt. All Rayan Ait-Nouri, Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, and Mateo Kovacic remain in the recovery room.
The Italian champions, on the other hand, have established themselves as the dominant force in Serie A under Antonio Conte. The club chiefs did well to reinforce the squad in the summer transfer window, but with Manchester City’s superior European pedigree, we predict that the visitors will return to Naples empty-handed. Both Romelu Lukaku and Amir Rrahmani are sidelined with injuries for the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (Mateo Kovacic):
Born to Croatian parents in Linz, Austria, Mateo Kovacic spent seven years in the LASK Linz youth academy before joining Dinamo Zagreb, where he showed a great deal of potential shortly after being promoted to the senior squad.
The good return of 7 goals in 43 league appearances saw him secure a high-profile move to Inter Milan, where he acted as both holding midfielder and attacking midfielder, during the three years at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. And despite not exactly impressing in Italy, Kovacic was purchased by mighty Real Madrid, where he has been ever since. The youngster is widely regarded as one of Croatia’s most talented footballers at the moment and he has represented the country on international stage since the age of 19.
In just three years he managed to make over 25 appearances for the national team, playing at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 finals for Vatreni. Kovavic has yet to be given a real chance to impress at Real Madrid, but he has entire future ahead of him.
Highlighted Team (Napoli):
SSC Napoli is an Italian football club from the city of Naples which is playing currently in the Serie A. The club was founded officially in 1926 but the history from Napoli reaches back to 1904 with the club Naples Foot-Ball & Cricket Club that fused with Internazionale Napoli and was called FBC Internaples.
After 4 seasons the club changed its name to SSC Napoli (Societa Sportiva Calcio).
In the end of the eighties Napoli had the biggest success in the club history with the Argentinian legend Diego Maradona. Diego Maradona was able to win the league title twice, the national cup and the UEFA cup. The moment Maradona left the club Napoli got into big financial trouble.
In 2004 the local club was bankrupt. Despite the help of financial investors the club got regulated to the Serie C. After 6 years of playing in lower divisions Napoli managed to get back in the Serie A in season 2007/2008. Famous players that played for the club from Naples are: Maradona, Zola, Cavani, Blanc, Di Canio, Cannavaro.
Athletic Bilbao 
Arsenal 
Benfica 
Qarabag
Juventus 
Borussia Dortmund 
Real Madrid 
Marseille 
Tottenham 
Villarreal 
Olympiacos 
Pafos 
