Champions League Liveblog: Manchester City vs. Napoli

“I am very honest and I got the feeling we had started well the first 20 minutes, causing them problems with a high press. I had the sensation we could hurt them,” added the coach.

“I am sorry that these are games that get ruined by red cards, because you can never know how things would’ve gone and how the teams measure up really against each other. I’ve been a player, I know that fatigue also sets in after a while when you are down to 10, so I had to introduce fresh legs.”

Matteo Politano had impressed when defending against Doku, but when he was substituted after a yellow card for a 3-5-2 formation, Manchester City broke through.

“Matteo is not a wing-back, and he was being forced to play that role. He can drop down when needed to help out, but if he has to just stay in that position, then others are more suitable. We tried to bring home a result and changed our shape to do it,” confessed Conte.

“I am happy with the spirit of sacrifice from my players and I leave this match with positive sensations about our European progress. Those are my feelings.”

Rasmus Hojlund was increasingly isolated upfront, so should Napoli have pressed higher to at least try to score a goal?

“These are matches where you are ultimately forced to defend. We conceded precisely when we tried to press high on a throw-in. That was a mistake. Our intention had been to press and get into these individual duels, but when you are down to 10, you’ve got to defend and hope for a counter-attack,” replied Conte.

“We didn’t want to do that, but we had to. When we did try to press them, we conceded. It was an excess of generosity. We need to be more mature, understand the situations, when not to press high if you are 10 against 11.

“This is why I say that I am nonetheless happy with the mentality of these lads. We had pretty much never been down to 10 last season, so this was the first time we were tested like this, and it was against the strongest opponent. I saw positive things, the way we came here with the desire to play on an even level.

“I was honestly angrier after the win over Fiorentina, as we took our foot off the gas in the last 10 minutes. These are games where if you don’t use your head and hold on, you can concede five or six goals against Manchester City and those stay with you, so we avoided that.”

“We were all left with a bitter taste in our mouths, because it’s disappointing,” Conte told Sky Sport Italia.

“We had prepared the match the way we played in the first 20 minutes, and this red card ruined the match. I don’t want to say if it was the right decision or not, as I didn’t see it, but it’s already hard enough to play against Manchester City with 11 against 11.

“I had seen a good attitude from my men and I think City would’ve found it extremely difficult tonight to play against us. After what happened, the lads did well to hold on. It’s already tough, but if you are down to 10 men for 75-80 minutes included added time, it becomes impossible.”

Did Conte have any doubts or regrets at taking off De Bruyne just 26 minutes into his big comeback at the Etihad?

“Destiny can be cruel sometimes. Last season, we had just one red card in Serie A. Here we got one after 20 minutes. Taking De Bruyne off was the only thing I could’ve done at that moment.

“I felt sorry for him, we lost his quality in the match and took away his opportunity to play here against his old club in his former stadium, but it was the only choice.”

Rasmus Hojlund admits it was going to be difficult for Napoli against Manchester City even without the red card, but Kevin De Bruyne ‘respects the decision’ of Antonio Conte to take him off.

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Phil Foden hails a 'perfect' Champions League start as Haaland breaks more records and De Bruyne returns to Manchester 🗣️

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 18, 2025

Napoli fell to a 2-0 defeat away against Manchester City at the beginning of the Champions League campaign, in a game that was effectively decided by Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s red card after just 20 minutes of action in England.

Click here for the full story.

At the final whistle, De Bruyne got to salute the Napoli fans first, then the Manchester City supporters.

All things considered, that could’ve gone much worse. Di Lorenzo red card changed the game.

Napoli held out under 10 men after Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s early red card, but eventually capitulated to Manchester City in the Champions League, cutting short Kevin De Bruyne’s return too.

Click here for the full match report.

Into 2 minutes of added time, because it’s fairly obvious neither side wants to do much more than run down the clock.

Buongiorno got a whack in the face, accidentally, but is fine to continue.

At the 86th minute, the City fans are finally making some noise.

Reijnders, Gvardiol and Haaland off for Manchester City.

Ake, Lewis and Bobb come on.

The good news for Napoli here is that City don’t seem particularly eager to push right now for more goals.

Savinho tries to get down the right, goes down under pressure from Spinazzola, but not enough for a foul.

The Napoli fans still making a lot more noise than the home supporters.

Doku dances his way through the Napoli defence as he doubles Man City's lead 😮‍💨

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Anguissa, Hojlund and Lobotka off for Napoli.

Elmas, Neres and Gilmour on.

City corner taken short, cross easy for Milinkovic-Savic.

Doku off, Savinho on for Manchester City.

O’Reilly in a dangerous position again down the left, but his first touch lets him down.

Is it a coincidence that both City goals came down that flank after Politano went off? Probably not.

Napoli might have to start worrying about goal difference now.

Politano kept him quiet for most of the game, but Doku confirms he is spectacularly good.

Squirms between two defenders and gets the angled drive through VMS’s legs from a tricky position.

Spinazzola cross-shot is captured by Donnarumma, anticipating McTominay and Hojlund.

Nico Gonzalez can’t keep the header on target from a Manchester City corner.

A simply fabulous header from Erling Haaland 💥

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 18, 2025