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As it happenedended1509572493

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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Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

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)

1509569916

GOAL! Spurs 2-0 Real Madrid (Alli)

56' - Dele Alli loves the Champions League, doesn't he?

He skips past Casemiro with ease before letting rip with a 20-yard shot that deflects off Sergio Ramos and past Kiko Casilla into the Real Madrid net.

A two-goal lead is no more than Spurs deserve.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 20:58
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Liam Corless1 November 2017 21:00
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62' - Spurs somehow escape with their two-goal lead intact as a goalmouth scramble ends with Cristiano Ronaldo blocking Sergio Ramos' shot from point-blank range. 

Madrid have cranked the pressure up in the last few minutes and look like they could get back into the game.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 21:05
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GOAL! Spurs 3-0 Real Madrid (Eriksen

65' - What a counter-attack!

That frightening front three of Alli, Kane and Eriksen combine on the break and it's Eriksen who applies the finishing touch after Kane's perfectly-weighted pass.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 21:07
1509570454

66' - Moussa Dembele replaces Harry Winks for Spurs.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 21:07
1509570538

GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Maribor (Can, 64)

Emre Can doubles Liverpool's lead at Anfield.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 21:08
1509570608

GOAL! Napoli 2-2 Manchester City (Jorginho, pen, 62)

This one was always going to be a cracker. Jorginho levels proceedings for Napoli from the spot.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 21:10
1509570903

70' - Every Tottenham pass is being greeted by an "Ole!" from the tens of thousands of Spurs supporters inside Wembley.

Mauricio Pochettino's men are humiliating the European champions here and there could be more goals to come.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 21:15
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74' - Marco Asensio and Borja Mayoral replace Karim Benzema and Isco for Real Madrid.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 21:15
1509571247

78' - What a chance! Dele Alli spurns a hat-trick opportunity as he puts a free header wide from Kieran Trippier's pinpoint cross. That should've been the match ball for the Spurs attacker.

Meanwhile, Fernando Llorente is on for Harry Kane.

Liam Corless1 November 2017 21:20

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