Thu Sep 18 18:10:00 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Familiar Faces Return as Manchester City Host Napoli in Champions League Clash

**Manchester, England** – Manchester City welcomes Napoli to the Etihad Stadium tonight in a highly anticipated Champions League group stage fixture. The match promises intrigue, with several familiar faces returning to the city they once called home.

City manager Pep Guardiola has opted for an unchanged lineup from Sunday’s Manchester Derby victory: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Silva, Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Haaland.

Napoli, coached by Antonio Conte, features a strong squad including former Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne. De Bruyne, who transferred to the Italian side this season, has already made an impact, scoring twice in three league games. Conte has said he has spoken to De Bruyne. “I’ve spoken to Kevin, I’ve asked him a few things.” Conte added, “Kevin will be excited to be playing but I’m hoping that after the starting whistle he will find his feet and remember he’s playing for our great Napoli.”

Joining De Bruyne in returning to Manchester are former Manchester United players Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund. McTominay, a key player in Napoli’s Serie A title win last season, will be looking to disrupt City’s midfield. Hojlund, who recently joined Napoli on loan, will aim to add to his impressive start, having scored 14 minutes into his debut.

The match holds significant weight for both teams, with the winner poised to gain a strong advantage in the group and increase their chances of advancing to the knockout stages.

Adding to the pre-match discussion, recent City signing Gianluigi Donnarumma has stated his belief that Pep Guardiola will improve his ball-playing skills. Donnarumma, who arrived from Paris Saint-Germain, addressed concerns about his ability with the ball at his feet, noting that Guardiola is “the best in these situations” to help him improve.

**Referee:** Felix Zwayer (Germany)
**VAR:** Christian Dingert (Germany)

**Stay tuned for live updates and match reports following the 8pm BST kick-off.**

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