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As it happenedended

Napoli vs Manchester City - as it happened: Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling seal victory for the visitors

Re-live updates from the Champions League

Liam Corless,Nick Stromberg
Wednesday 01 November 2017 15:56 GMT
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Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring his 178th goal for Manchester City
Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring his 178th goal for Manchester City (Getty)

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Manchester City will qualify for the Champions League knockout stages if they win at Napoli on Wednesday night.

In an early season where all of the unprecedented five English clubs involved in the competition have achieved admirably – with not a single game being lost – City have perhaps performed most emphatically, winning all three of their games and conceding a single goal.

Although Pep Guardiola’s side were pushed in the first, home leg of this double-header, with Dries Mertens missing a penalty that could have salvaged a point for Napoli, they will remain confident that they can emerge from the cauldron of the Stadio San Paolo with the crucial victory that will guarantee them early passage to the last-16.

The Sky Blues will no doubt take heart from their continued domestic dominance. Despite being pushed hard by a resilient West Brom at the weekend, their fluid attacking football still shows no signs of being stymied and their 3-2 victory extends their unbeaten record to 15, with 14 wins, this season.

Pep Guardiola will also be pleased to have no fresh injury concerns. Eager to get into the knockout rounds at the earliest opportunity, expect the Spaniard to field a strong starting XI this evening.

Indeed, despite their confidence, City will underestimate Napoli at their own peril. Disappointed to not come away from Etihad with at least a draw a fortnight ago, the Partenopei need a win to keep their own hopes of emerging from Group F alive. Following last Sunday’s win over Sassulo, the Italians are cruising at the top of Serie A and will aim to intimidate City into conceding tonight.

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What time does it start?

Napoli vs Manchester City kicks off at 19:45 GMT.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on BT Sport 3 from 19:00. Highlights will be shown at 22:15 on BT Sport 2.

It’s a big game for...

Pepe Reina has caught the eye of Manchester City in recent times (Getty)
Pepe Reina has caught the eye of Manchester City in recent times (Getty)

Pepe Reina: The experienced 34-year-old would have been disappointed to concede two in just 20 minutes at the Etihad. Rumoured to have been a transfer target for City in the summer – as an experienced stand-in for Ederson, in place of Claudio Bravo – a confident showing this evening may make this move concrete come January.

Best stat...

844: The amount of passes City completed in their win at West Brom on Saturday – the most ever completed in a Premier League since data started being collected.

Remember when...

A sweet finish from Edinson Cavani after a devastating Napoli counterattack when these two sides met in the group stages in 2011.

Player to watch out for...

Raheem Sterling: Scoring in this fixture at the Etihad a fortnight ago, as well as in last weekend’s triumph at West Brom, the forward now has a tally of 9 competitive goals this season, the highest of any City player.

Past three meetings...

Manchester City 2 (Sterling, Jesus) Napoli 1 (Diawara), Champions League, October 2017

Napoli 2 (Cavani x2) Manchester City 1 (Balotelli), Champions League, November 2011

Manchester City 1 (Kolarov) Napoli 1 (Cavani), Champions League, September 2011

Form guide...

Napoli: WWLDWW

Man City: WWWWDW

Odds...

Napoli: 7/4

Manchester City: 31/21

Draw: 27/10

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

Liam Corless1 November 2017 19:22

Klopp: Ox is 'dynamite'

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has endured a slow start to his Liverpool career since his £40million summer switch from Arsenal.

However, he has been handed a start against Maribor tonight and earlier this week Reds boss Jurgen Klopp raved about the impact the England midfielder has had on the Anfield club.

"He has shown his class each and every time he has had the opportunity on the pitch and the weekend was another example of this," Klopp said.

"He is like dynamite when he comes on. Aggressive in the most positive way. Front foot always. Looking to attack and create.

"These performances come because of how good his attitude is in training at Melwood. He has the highest quality in everything he does; sometimes I think he is the last to realise this."

Quotes from This Is Anfield

Liam Corless1 November 2017 19:29

Pochettino: We must learn from United defeat

On his goals at Spurs: "To win some trophies would be fantastic. That is, of course, my target.

"You must work hard to make that happen and it will be difficult but the most important thing is belief and I believe we can achieve big things.

"Our challenge is to compete with the best teams in Europe. Today, for me, only the club can improve if we have good performances in the Champions League and the Premier League."

On bouncing back from Saturday's loss to Man United: "The defeat against Manchester United was very painful but of course we must keep going and learn from the mistakes. Now we have a massive game at Wembley against Real Madrid."

Liam Corless1 November 2017 19:33

Just over five minutes to go until kick-off in seven of today's eight Champions League matches.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 19:40

The players are out on the pitch at Wembley. The Champions League theme tune is being blasted out. Kick-off is just moments away!

Liam Corless1 November 2017 19:43

1' - We are underway at Wembley!

Liam Corless1 November 2017 19:45

3' - Isco lets fly from 20 yards with his left foot but the Spaniard's shot is straight at Hugo Lloris, who collects the ball at the second time of asking.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 19:48

5' - Sergio Ramos gets his head to an Isco corner but puts the ball well over the crossbar. Very good chance, that. 

Real Madrid have started really positively here. They've been slick in possession and Spurs haven't really had a sniff yet.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 19:51

10' - Close! Harry Kane dinks a lovely ball through to Christian Eriksen and Sergio Ramos has to make a last-ditch challenge to prevent the Dane from getting a shot away.

Spurs have grown into the game after a slow start and Real Madrid are looking seriously suspect defensively.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 19:56

11' - Dele Alli wins the ball back in a good position on the halfway line and immediately looks for Harry Kane. The Spurs striker manages to get on the end of the pass despite Nacho's attempted interception but his chipped effort doesn't have enough loft on it and Kiko Casilla catches the ball. 

Liam Corless1 November 2017 19:58

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