Villarreal’s first Champions League win of the season is already carrying the weight of the weeks ahead as Napoli arrive at La Cerámica. With a trip to Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain’s visit to Castellón still to come, the Spanish side know that another missed opportunity in the league phase could quickly turn a demanding European schedule into a problem.
Key takeaways
- Villarreal host Napoli after a physically and emotionally draining defeat at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu.
- Iñigo Pérez is expected to retain much of the side that played in Madrid despite the short recovery time.
- Buchanan and Pépé, who has an eye problem, are unavailable for the coming weeks.
- Napoli travel after a 3-0 victory over Frosinone, with Kevin De Bruyne scoring twice.
- Scott McTominay has returned from cardiovascular issues and is set to start for the Italian club.
- Massimiliano Allegri could again use a 3-4-3, although a four-man defence remains possible.
Villarreal seek a response on their own ground
Last season’s Champions League campaign taught Villarreal that the new format leaves little room for postponing a result. Napoli represent formidable opposition, but the matches that follow make this an especially significant night: Liverpool await at Anfield, while PSG will later travel to Vila-real.
The home side’s preparations have been compressed by Saturday’s trip to the Bernabéu. Villarreal lost to Real Madrid, but their performance offered encouragement after a difficult opening to the campaign. Two confidence-building wins before the international break had eased concern around a club accustomed to competing for victories, and the display in Madrid suggested a team beginning to regain the resilience required for major occasions.
Pérez has urged his players to use the prospect of a first continental win as their answer to fatigue. He intends to keep a substantial part of the Bernabéu starting XI, even after the demands of that match.
A tactical adjustment before the break has played an important role in Villarreal’s improvement. Pérez has used Álex Baena Moleiro as a No. 10, with two wide players supporting a central attacking reference point. Buchanan’s absence, alongside Pépé’s eye issue, limits the coach’s options in that shape and may require a different solution.
Saliba could return to the starting line-up after becoming an unintended central figure in Vinicius’ sending-off at the Bernabéu. Pérez is also considering pushing Carlos Romero into midfield. Another option is a three-man central midfield, a structure Villarreal used in their opening European fixture against Borussia Dortmund. Mikautadze, still looking for the performance that can launch his season, is also in contention to be one of the principal changes.
Napoli bring momentum and Allegri’s unfinished business
Napoli have also had an uneven start, but their emphatic weekend win over Frosinone has strengthened their mood before travelling to Spain. De Bruyne scored twice in the 3-0 success, underlining his continued influence, while McTominay returned after cardiovascular problems and is expected to feature from the outset at La Cerámica.
Allegri tested a 3-4-3 for the first time this season and may retain that system against Villarreal. He has not ruled out reverting to a back four, with former Villarreal player Rafa Marín an option in either defensive arrangement.
The visit also takes Allegri back to a stadium connected to one of the harsher Champions League setbacks of his Juventus tenure. Villarreal eliminated Juve in the 2021-22 round of 16 under Unai Emery: the first leg in Spain ended 1-1 before Villarreal won 3-0 in Italy, a result that brought fierce criticism for the Livorno-born coach.
For Villarreal, this is a chance to turn improving domestic performances into a defining European result. Napoli arrive with their own renewed confidence, but the hosts have restored belief in their game and will look to make the La Cerámica crowd count before the league-phase calendar becomes even more unforgiving.
