Villarreal vs Napoli Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Villarreal have shown some improvement after a poor start as The Yellow Submarine now face Italian giants Napoli in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Kick-off date/time:
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Villarreal preview: Improvement from Villarreal
Following the appointment of former Rayo Vallecano boss Inigo Perez, Villarreal stuttered at the start of this season as they tried to overhaul their style to become more entertaining to watch for their supporters.
They earned back-to-back 3-1 wins against Malaga and Levante to get their first victories of the season before the international break before a hard-fought 1-0 loss to ten-man Real Madrid at the Bernabeu the other day.
Napoli preview: Unconvincing Napoli
Massimiliano Allegri took charge of Napoli, replacing Antonio Conte, over the summer and it has been a tough start for the former Juventus and AC Milan boss but they did earn an impressive victory before the break.
The Neapolitans eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory against newly-promoted Frosinone at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at the weekend, courtesy of goals a strike from Noa Lang, sandwiched by a Kevin De Bruyne brace in Naples.
Villarreal team news: Couple of injuries
Canada international winger Tajon Buchanan suffered a hamstring injury over the break, while Nicolas Pepe is now sidelined, too, after suffering an eye injury against Real Madrid at the weekend.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Gulacsi; Mourino, Navarro, Veiga, Cardona; Comesana, Gueye; Gerard, Saliba, Moleiro; Mikautadze
Unavailable: Buchanan (Injured), Pepe (Injured)
Questionable:
Napoli team news: Anguissa returning
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is getting closer to a return after being sidelined for about a month or so, while Scotland international midfielder Scott McTominay did return to action the other day after undergoing heart surgery.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Marin, Spinazzola; De Bruyne, Gilmour, Lobotka; Politano, Hojlund, Neres
Unavailable: Buongiorno (Injured), Mathias Oliveira (Injured), Favasuli (Injured), Vergara (Injured), Santos (Injured)
Questionable: Anguissa (Fitness)
Villarreal vs Napoli prediction
Napoli were much-improved against an in-form Frosinone side at the weekend but that came after a run of one win, one draw and three defeats since beating a poor Genoa side on the opening day of the campaign. Allegri’s side will retreat and seek to simply frustrate Villarreal here but, with their home advantage, siding with the improved La Liga outfit may well be the value bet for this one.
Villarreal vs Napoli Tip: Double chance – Villarreal to win or draw
