SSC Napoli - Arsenal

Kevin De Bruyne anchors the midfield for SSC Napoli as they welcome Arsenal to Diego Armando Maradona on 9 September 2026 for this Champions League matchday 1 encounter. The hosts arrive following a challenging week in Serie A, having suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Inter after a surprise home loss to Como. With Scott McTominay sidelined due to injury, the expected XI relies on the creative vision of De Bruyne and the attacking threat of Rasmus Hoejlund to spark a response on the European stage. Napoli will look to leverage home advantage to overcome their recent domestic wobble.

Arsenal travel with momentum, fresh from a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the Premier League. The visitors have enjoyed a strong start to the season, including a dominant 3-0 win against Manchester City in the Community Shield. Despite missing the injured Cristhian Mosquera, the expected XI features a potent core of Martin Oedegaard and Bukayo Saka. Having previously faced Napoli in the 2019 Europa League, where they progressed through a two-legged tie, Arsenal will aim to maintain their current defensive discipline and clinical form to secure a positive result in this opening group fixture.