Manchester City host Napoli on Tuesday at the Etihad in what could be one of the most entertaining games of this year’s Champions League group stage. Pep Guardiola’s side currently sit atop of the Premier League following Saturday’s 7-2 thumping of Stoke, in which Kevin de Bruyne was instrumental.
It’s been a case of the same in the Champions League as City also top Group F with six points from their opening two games which included a very strong showing against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Citizens are yet to concede a goal in the competition so far and their free-scoring ways suggest that they’re among one of the teams to beat in this season’s Champions League.
Napoli are in the same boat as City. They currently sit top of Serie A with seven wins from their opening seven games after beating Roma 1-0 at the weekend. Mauricio Sarri, who was linked with West Ham earlier this season, has built one of Europe’s most exciting attacking teams, focussing around Belgian international Dries Mertens. Mertens isn’t one of European football’s biggest names, but his goalscoring record in recent seasons indicates that he’s more than worthy of being rated among some of the best across the continent.
Manchester City vs. Napoli Predictions
With two of Europe’s most in-form and attacking sides facing it each, it would seem that goals are inevitable. Manchester City have put in some superb home performances already this season and Saturday’s result against Stoke will have boosted momentum. City to win and both teams to score looks a good bet here.
Manchester City vs. Napoli Betting Tips
- Manchester City to win: 5/9
- Draw: 7/2
- Napoli to win: 9/2
- Manchester City to win and over 3.5 goals: 29/20
Head to Head
- Manchester City have faced Napoli twice in the Champions League, back in 2011, drawing 1-1 at home before losing 2-1 away to the Italian club.
- Manchester City have won 80% of their competitive home games this season, scoring an average of four goals per game in them.
- Napoli have scored in all their away trips this season and have averaged 2.4 goals per games.
- Manchester City have scored 29 goals in their first eight league games, beating a record that has existed since 1894.
- Napoli are the only remaining team in Europe with a 100% winning record.
- Dries Mertens has scored 9 goals in 11 games in all competitions this season, including one in the Champions League already.
- John Stones is Manchester City’s top scorer in the Champions League this season, having scored twice.
Manchester City Team News
Sergio Aguero was on the bench against Stoke at the weekend after recovering from a broken rib caused by a car crash in the Netherlands. Kyle Walker suffered an injury scare against Stoke at the weekend, but is likely to play. Vincent Kompany is out with a calf injury, while Benjamin Mendy is a long-term absentee with a cruciate knee injury.
Possible Manchester City XI: Ederson Moraes, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Danilo, Ilkay Gundogan, Yaya Toure, Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane
Napoli Team News
Defender Lorenzio Tonelli and Polish international striker Arkadiusz Milik are both injured for the visitors.
Possible Napoli XI: Pepe Reina, Elseid Hysaj, Nikola Maksimovic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Faouzi Ghoulam, Allan, Jorginho, Marek Hamsik, Jose Callejon, Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne
