Manchester City began their 2025-26 UEFA Champions League campaign on a high note, securing a 2-0 victory over Napoli at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday. The win marked a confident start for Pep Guardiola's side, with Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku scoring the crucial goals.
Key Moments from the Match
- *Giovanni Di Lorenzo's Red Card*: The Napoli captain's dismissal in the 21st minute proved pivotal, as Manchester City capitalized on the numerical advantage. Di Lorenzo was sent off for a clumsy challenge on Haaland.
- *Erling Haaland's Record-Breaking Goal*: Haaland scored his 50th Champions League goal in just 49 appearances, becoming the fastest player to achieve this feat. He latched onto Phil Foden's lofted pass and looped a delicate header over Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the 56th minute.
- *Jeremy Doku's Solo Effort*: Doku sealed the win with a stunning solo goal, beating three Napoli defenders before slotting the ball through Milinkovic-Savic's legs in the 65th minute.
Match Statistics
- *Possession*: Manchester City dominated with 74% possession.
- *Shots*: City had 23 shots, with 8 on target, while Napoli managed only 1 shot.
- *Expected Goals (xG)*: Manchester City had an xG total of 2.18, compared to Napoli's 0.17.
Next Steps for Manchester City
Manchester City's next challenge is their Premier League match against Arsenal on Sunday. The win over Napoli will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they look to continue their strong form ¹ ².
