Napoli arrive in Vila-real with their domestic momentum restored, but Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Villarreal has been overshadowed by a deeply unsettling incident involving the Spanish side’s goalkeeper, Péter Gulácsi. The Hungarian was reportedly the victim of an armed robbery at his home on the morning of the match, while his wife and young daughters were also present.
No further details of the incident have emerged, but Gulácsi is understood to be too shaken to take part in the 21:00 fixture. His absence forces a late rethink for Villarreal ahead of a night which had already carried the weight of an old European rivalry.
Napoli return to continental action after a convincing 3-0 league victory over Frosinone. Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and Noa Lang added the other goal, giving Massimiliano Allegri’s side a timely lift after the championship resumed. Villarreal, by contrast, travel back from Madrid following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Yan Diomandé registered his first goal for the Blancos.
A familiar European opponent
This will be the seventh competitive meeting between Napoli and Villarreal, with their previous six encounters divided evenly: two Napoli wins, two Villarreal victories and two draws. They have faced each other twice in the Champions League and four times in the Europa League.
The last occasion came in the 2015-16 Europa League round of 32. Napoli drew 1-1 at what was then the Stadio San Paolo, with Marek Hamšík and Pina on the scoresheet, but Villarreal progressed after winning the first leg 1-0.
The setting this time is the Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal’s 25,000-seat home, renovated most recently at the end of 2023. Known locally as El Feudo Amarillo, it will host a Napoli side expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Alex Meret in goal; Rafa Marín, Amir Rrahmani and Benoît Badiashile in defence; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Stanislav Lobotka, De Bruyne and Leonardo Spinazzola across midfield; David Neres and Lang behind Rasmus Højlund.
Villarreal had been set up in a 4-2-3-1, with Gulácsi named behind Mourino, Navarro, Renato Veiga and Cardona; Comesaña and Gueye in midfield; Akhomach, Moleiro and Pérez supporting Mikautadze. The robbery means that selection will have to be altered before kick-off.
Germany’s Daniel Siebert has been appointed referee, assisted by Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn. Max Burda will serve as fourth official, while Sören Storks takes charge of VAR with Bastian Dankert assisting him. Siebert also refereed the most recent Champions League final, in which Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal on penalties.
The match is the second round of the Champions League and will be available exclusively on Sky and NOW, with streaming through Sky Go and NOW TV.
