Napoli return to the Champions League with their domestic momentum restored, but the European ledger still empty after the opening matchday. Massimiliano Allegri’s side travel to Villarreal on Tuesday night seeking a first point of the league phase, while the Spanish club are also looking to respond after a narrow defeat in Germany.
A European evening at La Ceramica
Villarreal host Napoli at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Tuesday 13 October, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00. German referee Daniel Siebert will take charge of the second league-phase fixture.
- Napoli arrive after returning to winning form in Serie A.
- The Azzurri lost their first Champions League match against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
- Villarreal were beaten 3-2 away to Borussia Dortmund on 8 September.
- Iñigo Perez’s team and Allegri’s Napoli therefore begin the night without a point in the competition.
It is an early but meaningful continental test for Napoli: a chance to turn a difficult opening European result into a more balanced start to the campaign, away from home and against opponents with the same immediate need for a response.
Likely line-ups and absences
Villarreal are expected to begin in a 4-2-3-1 system, with Gerard Moreno leading the line. Napoli’s projected selection is a 3-5-2, with Rasmus Hojlund and Giovane set to form the attacking partnership.
Villarreal
- Probable XI: Gulacsi; Freeman, Foyth, R. Veiga, Sergi Cardona; Santi Comesana, P. Gueye; Akhornach, A. Perez, Alberto Moleiro; G. Moreno.
- Available substitutes: Luiz Junior, Ruben Gomez, Logan Costa, Carlos Romero, Pau Navarro, Mouriño, Altimira, Nathan, Oluwaseyi, Carlos Maciá, Mikautadze.
- Unavailable: Buchanan and Pepé.
- Suspensions: None.
- Players one booking from suspension: None.
Napoli
- Probable XI: Milinkovic-Savic; Rafa Marin, Rrahmani, Badiashile; Politano, De Bruyne, Gilmour, McTominay, Di Lorenzo; Hojlund, Giovane.
- Available substitutes: Meret, Contini, Neres, Lucca, Beukema, Spinazzola, Lobotka and Lang.
- Unavailable: Alisson Santos, Anguissa, Vergara and Olivera.
- Not included in Napoli’s UEFA list: Favasuli and Marianucci.
- Suspensions: None.
- Players one booking from suspension: None.
How to follow Villarreal v Napoli
The match will be shown live on Sky Sport Arena and Sky Sport 253, and will also be available through NOW. Streaming access is offered via Sky Go and NOW for subscribers, including on smartphones and tablets through the respective applications.
For Napoli, the trip to Spain is the next chapter in a season already moving between the demands of Serie A and Europe. Allegri’s side have repaired their league form; the task at La Ceramica is to begin repairing their Champions League position as well.
