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By GETHIN HICKS, TRAINEE REPORTER and JACK GAUGHAN, NORTH WEST SPORTS REPORTER and NATHAN SALT - FOOTBALL REPORTER Updated: 08: 17 AEST, 19 September 2025   52 View comments Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Manchester City host Napoli at the Etihad in the Champions League, with Jack Gaughan and Nathan Salt reporting from the ground.   On a night which could easily have been a banana skin against a Napoli side who had lost just one game in 2025, Man City proved their early-season slump was just a blip. There was so much to talk about pre-match - Kevin de Bruyne's return, Scott Mc Tominay and Rasmus Hojliund back in Manchester and Pep Guardiola facing off against another of the world's great managers, Antonio Conte. But in truth all of that paled into insignificance in the 19th minute when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was given his marching orders. There went Kevin de Bruyne, brutally substituted off, and there went any hope of Hojlund, Mc Tominay or indeed Conte having any real impact on the game. City are efficient and ruthless at their best and, against 10-men, they're nearly impossible to beat when on-song. After overcoming two difficult tests this week, Sunday's trip to Arsenal is an even tougher one. Whether they can prevail may well determine whether they can mount a serious title charge. Thank you for joining us at Daily Mail Sport tonight - see you all at the weekend. Much was made of Rasmus Hojlund, Scott Mc Tominay and Kevin de Bruyne's return to Manchester this evening, but in truth not a single one of the trio delivered. Napoli completed just a quarter of the amount of passes which their opponents did, making it extremely difficult for any of the three former Premier League stars to have an impact. They'll all have better days both in the Serie A and the Champions League, hopefully with 11 men on the pitch. With fixtures against Sporting Lisbon, PSV and Eintracht Frankfurt to come, you'd still expect Conte's side to make it through the group phase despite tonight's tough start. Ultimately a night to forget for the Italian champions. Pep Guardiola praised his side in his post-match interview with TNT: Antonio Conte gave his thoughts to TNT Sports post-match: When Kevin de Bruyne woke up at a Manchester hotel this morning, this can't have been the night he envisaged. A return to a club where he won so much, where he's so adored - the Belgian must've been desperate to show he's still got it. He no-doubt does, as I'm sure he'll prove in the Serie A this season, but his withdrawal in the first-half must've hurt. De Bruyne didn't show it, he barely even let out a sigh, just a wave to the Manchester City fans. A final goodbye perhaps, who knows if we'll ever see him at the Etihad again. It was a brutal decision from Antonio Conte and one which won't earn him any friends at Man City. Giovanni Di Lorenzo owes De Bruyne one, that's for sure. Our very own Jack Gaughan has filed his report from the Etihad. Relive all the action here: City have well and truly proved their early-season doubters wrong in just a matter of days. Granted, three points from as many Premier League games was indeed a poor start, and one which understandably worried City supporters heading into a difficult run of fixtures. Believe it or not, Manchester United were far from written off heading into Sunday's derby against a defensively weak City side, according to pundits. A resounding 3-0 proved them wrong. Napoli travelled to the Etihad tonight as Serie A champions who had only lost one game in the entirety of 2025. Okay, they were reduced to 10 men, but Antonio Conte's side return to Naples well beaten. Have Pep's side turned a corner? Time will tell. Whether they can mount a serious title charge remains doubtful, but they're certainly not as poor as some have made out. Write off Guardiola at your peril. Here's a round-up of the rest of the night's results in the Champions League: Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Phil Foden said: Another week, another record broken by the inevitable Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has been well and truly at his best so far this season and tonight became the quickest player to reach 50 Champions League goals when he dinked Milinkovic-Savic with a delightful header. When he's one-on-one, you just know he's going to score. It's taken Haaland a measly 49 games to reach his half century of goals, that's quicker than Ruud van Nilstelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry. Not bad company to be in. That's that! I think many of us knew what the result of this one would be when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was given his marching orders on 19 minutes - and that's exactly how it's turned out. 2-0 to a Man City side who dominated the ball and ultimately the entire game. The hosts' 23 shots on goal compared to the visitors' sole effort well and truly tells the story of this one! This one's just petering out as it nears its finishes. City with all the ball and their fans serenading Kevin de Bruyne once again. Fair play to Napoli, they've made it hard for the hosts - but not many sides in world football could keep City out for an hour with 10 men. Three changes for Pep Guardiola's side. Gvardiol, Haaland and Reijnders are off for Ake, Bobb and Rico Lewis. I think that confirms that Pep's already looking ahead to the weekend's trip to Arsenal. Man City with an optimistic shout for a pen, it must be said. Savinho drops the shoulder near the byline and goes down, but it's never a pen despite the home side's appeals. The game looks all but done with 10-man Napoli 2-0 down. Then again, stranger things have happened! I think that's Antonio Conte admitting defeat. The visiting boss makes three changes with Anguissa, Hojlund and Lobotka replaced by Elmas, Neres and Gilmour. A difficult night for Hojlund, who hardly got a sniff after the red card. That's the end of Jeremy Doku's night with the winger removed just moments after scoring his goal. He's replaced by Savinho. Not a bad way to sign off, eh? We said it was a big night for Jeremy Doku after an impressive performance from the Belgian on the weekend - and he's delivered again. Much the same as his run before Phil Foden's goal against United, Doku weaves in between two Napoli defenders before sending an effort past Milinkovic-Savic with his weaker left foot. It was an incredible run, and one which deserved a goal at the end of it! 2-0 City! Pep Guardiola makes his first change of the match, with Nico Gonzalez on for Rodri. Gooooal, and it's Erling Haaland! It's taken them nearly 40 minutes since the sending off, but City have broken the dead-lock. It's a delightful chip from Phil Foden through to the Norwegian bagsman, who dinks a header past Milinkovic-Savic in the Napoli net. Are the flood-gates about to well and truly open? Antonio Conte has taken off Matteo Politano, on a yellow card, for centre-back Juan Jesus. The Italian boss is signalling that he wants his side to move into a back 5. Shock, horror, Pep Guardiola has resorted to geeing up the Man City support. It's a Champions League night, they shouldn't need any geeing up. As Sam Matterface on TNT Sports just affirmed, 'it's Napoli providing the chorus at the Etihad. ' How many times have we seen a game setup like this at the Etihad? City with all the ball, 81 per cent of it to be exact, and the opposition well and truly penned in. And how many times have we seen the same result? A City win. I'd be surprised if Napoli can hold out, but they're doing a great job of it so far. The referee has begun the second half and, I have to say, I think it's a matter of when, rather than if, Man City break the dead-lock. I could be wrong, I certainly have been before, but it's very hard to see the visitors registering a goal. Let's see what happens. .. Half-time scores around Europe: There's no space for sentiment in football, especially in the Champions League, but Antonio Conte's decision to withdraw Kevin de Bruyne was particularly brutal. I'll admit, when you're down to 10-men, you probably would substitute a luxury midfielder such as KDB, wouldn't you? He's never been a big tackler. But I can't help but wonder how this game would've gone had Di Lorenzo not gone to ground. A De Bruyne goal back at the Etihad would've been something to behold. Maybe in another life. .. . The referee blows his whistle to signal the end of a half which, in all honesty, has been all Man City. That's through no fault of the visitors - well, apart from Matteo Di Lorenzo - who lost their skipper early on after a late challenge on Erling Haaland. As you'd expect from an Antonio Conte side, Napoli have been well-organised, determined and defensively sound. City have struggled to break them down. Whether Guardiola's side can break them down in the second half remains to be seen but as the game draws on, you'd expect some tired legs in the visiting camp. A penny for the thoughts of Rasmus Hojlund up top for the Serie A champions, he's hardly had a kick. To be fair, neither have the rest of his side. Tijjani Reijnders comes close on the brink of half-time. Bernardo Silva begins the move with a trademark jinking run on the right, before picking out an inch perfect ball to the Dutchman, who side foots an effort which looks certain for the bottom corner. Napoli skipper Matteo Politano intercepts with a block right on the line which is eventually gathered by Milinkovic-Savic. The visitors incredibly look like they're going to hold on until the break. A Conte masterclass on the cards? Wow, what a save that is from Milinkovic-Savic in the Napoli net. Josko Gvardiol leaps and wins a toweing header from a corner which looks destined for the bottom corner, but the shot-stopper claws it away with his right hand. City edging closer on the brink of the interval. But it is also hard to shake the feeling that they are missing a lock picker this season to try and pick this low block apart. Patience is the operative word right now. .. but it will turn into frustration the longer this stays 0-0 For all their possession, many of City's strikes on goal have been from distance. Rodri registers another, and it's the closest yet. The Spanish Ballon D'or winner connects sweetly with a volley from the edge of the box, which is parried away on the bounce by the Serie A 'keeper. You have to say, if one manager could set a side up not to concede, it'd probably be Antonio Conte. He's done just that so far. He's been quiet so far but Phil Foden has just registered his first shot of the game. The English maverick picks the ball up on the edge of the box, cuts inside and lets an effort off with that wand of a left foot. This time, however, his strike is straight at the 'keeper. Napoli can't get out of their own half here, it's all City. Surely only a matter of time before we see the opener. That's not what we wanted to see, but that's football sadly. Antonio Conte had to sacrifice someone after the red card, and he's chosen the returning Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgian claps and waves to the City supporters on his way off - it makes you wonder whether they'll ever get a glimpse of him again. I know it's hard to believe, but Erling Haaland has just missed one. Reijnders whips a delightful ball in which is met and flicked on by the big Norwegian, but his effort sails over the bar. It's all City at the moment. Struggle to see how Napoli can get a result out of this one. The visitors are down to 10 and it's their captain that they've lost! Erling Haaland bursts in behind Giovanni Di Lorenzo and is staring down on goal, when the Italian defender takes him down. It's a definite red, Di Lorenzo fails to get a touch on the ball and denies City a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Could be a long night for Conte's side now! The visitors almost take the lead through a Sam Beukema header! A dangerous corner is swung from the right, the centre-half leaps like a salmon and heads an effort towards goal which is, of course, saved by Donnarumma. He looks unbeatable at the moment. I hate to say I told you so, but Leonardo Spinazzola has made an impressive start to this one. The Napoli full-back drops the shoulder to get past Khusanov and delivers a teasing dink into the box which is eventually cleared by City. Keep your eye on him! Tijjani Reijnders with a thunderbolt of an effort for the home side. The former AC Milan midfielder cuts inside and lashes an effort at the visiting goalkeeper, which is tipped over his crossbar. Am I seeing this right, Scott Mc Tominay on the left-wing? It may just be an off the ball ploy, but the Scotsman has been on the left side of the Napoli midfield for much of the opening exchanges. Little to report so far! Ruben Dias with the first shot of the game early on. The defender tries a hugely ambitious effort from distance which is way wide. A fairly predictable start to this one - Man City with the majority of possession with Napoli well organised. A typically Guardiola vs Conte start, if you will. And Manchester City's Champions League campaign is off! The home side are, of course, sporting their usual light blue strip, with Napoli in their navy EA7 away kit. Hardly surprising, but City fans have given Kevin de Bruyne the welcome back to the blue side of Manchester he deserves. 'Oooh, Kevin de Bruyne, ' rings around the Etihad ahead of kick-off. By Gethin Hicks Is Phil Foden at last getting his mojo back? I think he might be. For so long before Sunday's Manchester derby the Englishman looked almost a shadow of his former self - struggling to impact games, score goals or even retain a place in Pep Guardiola's side. Well, Foden's named in the XI tonight and it feels like a significant night for him. Can he build on his goal in the Manchester derby against the Serie A champions this evening? We're about to find out. .. and I can't wait. By Gethin Hicks Probably a lot sooner than he, you or I expected, but Kevin de Bruyne is back in Manchester. The Belgian at the Etihad just looks right - and you wouldn't put it past him to rifle a trademark curler into the top corner tonight. A penny for the thoughts of James Trafford as we approach kick-off at the Etihad. The youngster must've thought he'd sealed his dream move when he completed a return to City earlier this summer. From winning the Championship title to competing in the Champions League, what more could he have wanted? But that dream's quickly turning into a nightmare with the arrival of Gigi Donnarumma. After the Italian giant's flawless debut in the Manchester derby, it's difficult to see where Trafford gets his minutes this season. He's on the bench again tonight and must be regretting his choice of club already. There's a host of talent on show at the Etihad this evening, so perhaps it's a little strange of me to choose a left-back as my one to watch, but Leonardo Spinazzola isn't your ordinary defender. I remember watching him at Euro 2020 marauding up the left-wing, as a right-footer, and causing opposition defenders all sorts of problems. Okay, since then he's had his injury troubles, but if he reaches those levels tonight then he's sure to make a difference. The two sets of players have arrived and, as predicted, Antonio Conte and co win the award for best dressed. Antonio Conte has named his starting XI, and it's exactly the team neutrals would've hoped for. Rasmus Hojlund, Scott Mc Tominay and Kevin de Bruyne all start on their returns to Manchester. If one thing's for sure tonight, it's that those three will receive very different receptions from the Etihad crowd. Napoli XI: Milinkovic-Savic, Politano, Beukema, Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Lobotka, Di Lorenzo, Anguissa, De Bruyne, Mc Tominay, Hojlund If away fans are sporting tattoos of Diego Maradona, then you know Napoli are in town. The great Argentinian bagged 115 goals in 258 appearances for the Italian side and is remembered as a king in southern Italy. By Gethin Hicks We're used to settling down for Europa and Conference League games on cold Thursday nights during the winter, but not tonight! The new format of the Champions League, introduced at the end of last season, sees one exclusive week per season set aside where matches will be played across Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Enjoy tonight while it lasts as next week the Europa and Conference leagues return. By Gethin Hicks Our very own Jack Gaughan has made a particularly strange observation at the Etihad this evening. By Gethin Hicks A Serie A side hasn't won the Champions League in 15 years but if there was a style award, the Italians would bag it every year. The visitors arrived at the Etihad earlier today in their brand new Emporio Armani polos and shirts, and they looked the business. While already wearing EA7 on their playing shirts, Napoli recently signed a deal with Emporio Armani, who will design their off-field attire for the next five years. The first collection makes its debut tonight in Manchester. De Bruyne, Mc Tominay and Hojlund are all rocking it - and it seems they've had haircuts to match! By Gethin Hicks It's not been long, just 98 days to be exact, but he's back. That's right, Kevin de Bruyne - arguably the greatest player in Manchester City's history - makes his return to the Etihad Stadium this evening wearing the sky blue of another club, the Italian champions Napoli. The Belgian maverick is sure to receive a warm welcome from the rafters packed into the ground, but he'll no-doubt be desperate to get his name on the scoresheet too. De Bruyne made clear his thoughts on not being offered a new deal by City last season and with two goals already this term in Serie A, he returns with a point to prove. As do Scott Mc Tominay and Rasmus Hojlund, two stars of the other side of Manchester who have also made the Italian switch. Mc Tominay, a player so often criticised at Old Trafford, has enjoyed an incredible renaissance in Serie A which has seen him nominated for the Ballon D'or. If I'd have predicated such a couple of years ago, you'd have laughed at me. Hojlund meanwhile, exiled at Man United by Ruben Amorim, returns to the north-west after bagging a debut goal for the Blues at the weekend. With team news expected to come in around 7pm, it's likely all three will be named in Antonio Conte's starting XI. By Gethin Hicks Pep Guardiola against Antonio Conte, Rodri against Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester City against Napoli. .. as Chandler Bing would say, could there be any more talking points? Europe's two most famous Sky Blues face off tonight in the Champions League and, I don't know about you, but I'm excited. It's been a thrilling and, it has to be said, dramatic start to this season's premium European competition and that's sure to continue tonight. After all, Champions League footy on a Thursday is a bonus, right? So, strap in and follow all the action here with Daily Mail Sport as the Italian champions try to turn over Guardiola's Man City in their own back yard. Lucy Ward alert! We were never going to avoid her . ..

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