The match was highlighted by a strong performance from Erling Haaland, who scored his 50th Champions League goal in just 49 games, becoming the quickest player to reach this milestone. Haaland's goal was followed by a solo effort from Jeremy Doku, securing a comfortable win for City.

Despite the presence of Kevin De Bruyne, who returned to the Etihad Stadium for the first time since leaving Manchester City in the summer, the game was not about him. De Bruyne was substituted after 25 minutes following a red card to Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who was sent off for denying Haaland a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

The red card changed the dynamics of the game, and City took control, with Napoli struggling to create scoring chances. The Italian team's defense was intense, but with ten players, they struggled to cope with the pressure, and their goalkeeper, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, seemed to attract the ball, making it difficult for the opposing team.

Napoli's striker, Rasmus Hojlund, was left isolated up front, and despite his efforts, he struggled to retain possession of the ball. The Italian team's failure to support him led to a lack of scoring opportunities, and City took advantage of this to secure the win.

The match was marked by a subdued atmosphere, with many Napoli fans leaving before the final whistle. The City fans, on the other hand, were jubilant, with chants of "Ohh, Kevin De Bruyne" ringing out as he came on to the field to acknowledge his former team-mates.

Manager Pep Guardiola will hope that this win will help to stop the rot of recent European form, which had seen City lose four of their last five Champions League matches.

The match also marked the managerial return of Antonio Conte, who took charge of Napoli after leaving Tottenham and Chelsea. However, his team's defeat means that his record against Manchester City's Pep Guardiola remains even.

The police presence outside the stadium was noticeable, but the mood was calm, and the city's fans were left to celebrate a comfortable win.