Champions League breaks its own rulebook
Manchester City open their Champions League campaign against Napoli at the Etihad on Thursday, 18 September 2025, with an 8pm kick-off. Normally Thursdays are for Europa League nights, but UEFA’s new format means matchday one is spread across three days.
Kevin De Bruyne returns in Napoli colours, while ex-Premier League names Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund also feature. And yes, watching City on a Thursday feels so odd it’s like finding your school headteacher at a nightclub — technically allowed, but utterly surreal.
