Manchester City vs Napoli
Expect both sides to notch in their opening UCL fixture
It's been far from a vintage start to the season for Manchester City; however, they showed their quality with a convincing 3-0 victory over rivals Manchester United.
Pep's side have another tough test approaching with a weekend with Arsenal on the horizon. The injuries are abating; however, they're still missing John Stones, Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush for this clash, and some rotation is likely.
Erling Haaland is unlikely to be rested with the Norwegian enjoying yet another purple patch both domestically and internationally. He's already notched five Premier League goals and tends to thrive in the UCL.
City's defence has been far from secure and has looked shaky at times. It was a similar story last season, with Feyenoord and Club Brugge both notching at this venue during the league stage of the competition.
Napoli will fancy their chances of taking something back from this opening clash. Antonio Conte's side are always well-drilled, and they are unlikely to go down without a fight. They're unbeaten in Serie A with their 3-1 success in Florence at the weekend, easily their best performance of the campaign.
They possess two former Manchester United players, Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay, and both should be fit enough to start this game. There are defensive doubts about Amir Rrahmani and goalkeeper Alex Meret, both of whom have picked up injuries in the last seven days.
It's tough to see the hosts drawing a blank and the visitors can be extremely dangerous going forward too. This could be a very entertaining contest.
Jack’s football journey began in the early 2000s at Bloomfield Road, sparking a lifelong passion for the EFL and beyond. With over a decade of writing and tipping experience, he delivers sharp insights and value-driven betting advice across football, darts, tennis, and horse racing.
When he’s not analysing stats, Jack is on commentary duty for Stoke City and occasionally heard at Owlerton Greyhound Stadium. Based in Leeds, he’s as reliable with a brew as he is with a bet.