Two European giants who will get their respective Champions League adventures underway on Thursday night, Manchester City will welcome Napoli to the Etihad. Marking their return with an emphatic performance over the weekend as they claimed local bragging rights thanks to a thumping 3-0 victory against arch-rivals Manchester United, Pep Guardiola's superstar squad will be dreaming of a repeat performance here.
Chelsea, the Conference League winners, reached the final with a 2-0 win over Fluminense, featuring a brace from new signing Joao Pedro. They aim to become the first English club to win the tournament twice.
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While Palermo has suffered heartbreak in previous play-offs, they have shown resilience and are poised for promotion, thanks to their offensive prowess, scoring 13 goals in five matches.
Manchester United's recent performance, characterized by inconsistency, has raised concerns, especially after their 2-2 draw against Lyon where goalkeeper Andre Onana made two critical errors.