Man City Champions League 2025/26 season preview: odds, prediction and fixtures

Man City's aim of lifting the Champions League trophy once more will begin this week when Pep Guardiola's side opens their league stage campaign at the Etihad Stadium.

Italian champions Napoli are the visitors on Match Day 1, in what promises to be an enthralling contest between two high-quality sides. City head into the match off the back of a convincing 3-0 win against Manchester United on Sunday, with attacking talisman Erling Haaland looking in ominously dangerous form.

After suffering a rare trophyless season last time out, the Cityzens will be chomping at the bit to reverse that outcome this time around and try to replicate their historic 2023 success when they went all the way in European football's elite competition.

Bookmakers Bet365 have City at 13/20 to win their opening match against Napoli, with a draw priced at 3/1. An away win for Gli Azzurri is offered at 4/1.

Looking at the wider picture, Bet365 have City at 9/1 to win the whole competition, with 6/1 Liverpool and Barcelona considered the joint favourites.

Manchester City will feel they have a point to prove in this season’s Champions League. Their European exit in February was probably the most disappointing element of a below-par season. They made a mess of the group stage and then made a mess of a promising first-leg position against Real Madrid in the play-off round.

That will provide extra motivation to get it right this season. They will know that finishing in the top eight is a must, really, to try and make life a little easier. Achieve that, and there is no reason they can’t aim to win it again.

Doing that will depend on Erling Haaland staying fit and scoring goals, Phil Foden getting back to his best and Rodri proving he is completely over his