Key Takeaways:
- Last night, Manchester City defeated Napoli 2:0 at home in their Champions League opener
- Erling Haaland scored his 50th Champions League goal, becoming the fastest player in competition history to reach this milestone
- Napoli were reduced to ten men after Giovanni Di Lorenzo was sent off in the 21st minute
Line-ups and Tactical Approach
Both managers opted for unchanged starting elevens following convincing domestic victories, with Manchester City sticking to the side that triumphed 3:0 over Manchester United, utilising a 4-1-4-1 formation spearheaded by Haaland. Napoli boss Antonio Conte also retained his line-up after their 3:1 win against Fiorentina, deploying Rasmus Højlund up front and fielding former City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who received a warm reception from the home fans, complete with numerous positive banners and signs throughout the Etihad stands.
First Half: Napoli Reduced to Ten as City Assert Dominance
Manchester City made their attacking intent clear early, with Ruben Dias firing over from distance inside four minutes. The visitors responded through Tijjani Reijnders, whose powerful strike forced Vanja Milinković-Savić to concede a corner. Haaland then saw a header go wide, before Napoli’s first attempt came in the 17th minute – Gianluigi Donnarumma comfortably saving Sam Beukema’s header from a set piece.
A winning start! 💪#UCL ✨ pic.twitter.com/fhqKjIhHyC
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 18, 2025
The match’s complexion changed in the 21st minute when Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, as the last defender, fouled Haaland just outside the box. Following a VAR review, Di Lorenzo was dismissed with a straight red card. Reijnders’ subsequent free kick was diverted for a corner by the defensive wall. City intensified pressure, and Haaland headed narrowly over before Napoli made an early adjustment, introducing Mathías Olivera for De Bruyne to shore up the defence – De Bruyne departing to thunderous applause.
Phil Foden and Rodri both tested Milinković-Savić from range, while headers from O’Reilly and Gvardiol failed to find the net. Reijnders had two more efforts – one off-target, the other heroically cleared on the line by Matteo Politano. Haaland’s shot closed a half marked by City dominance and Napoli’s defensive resilience.
Milestone Moment for Haaland and City’s Second-Period Control
City emerged from half-time looking to make their numerical advantage pay, with Reijnders and Foden spurning early opportunities. The breakthrough arrived in the 56th minute as Foden expertly picked out Haaland, who flicked a header and calmly lobbed Vanja Milinković-Savić, securing a landmark 50th Champions League goal in just his 49th appearance – a new record, besting Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous mark.
Manchester City swiftly doubled the lead in the 65th minute, as Jeremy Doku weaved through the Napoli defence and threaded his finish through Milinković-Savić’s legs. With a comfortable cushion, City controlled possession and did not register another shot in the remaining 25 minutes, content to see out a composed victory.
| Score | Scorers | Red Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City 2:0 Napoli | Haaland (56′), Doku (65′) | Di Lorenzo (Napoli, 21′) |
Team Line-Ups
| Manchester City | Napoli |
|---|---|
| Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Reijnders, Doku, Haaland | Milinković-Savić, Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Bongiorno, Spinazzola, Lobotka, Politano, Zambo Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay, Højlund |
Looking Ahead
The next Champions League round on October 1 will see Manchester City travel to Monaco, while Napoli will host Sporting (Lisbon).
