Villarreal achieved its first victory in the Champions League in more than a year by beating Napoli 3-1 at the Cerámica, breaking a streak of 12 games without winning in European competition. The opening goal came in the 73rd minute when Mikautadze took advantage of a mistake by the Neapolitan goalkeeper to score, and the second was sealed with a powerful shot by Santiago Mouriño from distance in the 84th minute. The third goal, which sealed the comeback, came in the 86th minute when Oluwaseyi converted a cross from Ayoze after a play by the defense.
From the start the match showed an intense rhythm and a marked difference in possession, with Villarreal controlling 53% of the ball compared to Napoli's 47%. Íñigo Pérez's team showed a compact defense and a well-structured offense, with 17 total shots, of which four reached the goal, while Napoli had 11 shots, of which three were on goal. The number of fouls was high, 15 for Napoli compared to 8 for Villarreal, and both teams received several yellow cards, with Napoli accumulating three and Villarreal two.
The match was marked by several substitutions and tactical changes. Napoli, under the direction of Allegri, introduced a defense of four with Lobotka and De Bruyne in the double pivot, while Villarreal, with its coach Íñigo Pérez, opted for an offensive scheme that allowed its forwards to take advantage of the spaces created by the wings. Changes in the second half included the entry of Freeman and Oluwaseyi for Villarreal, and the substitution of Spinazzola, Neres and Lang for Napoli, although the Partenopean team failed to reverse the difference.
After Mouriño's goal, Villarreal seemed more confident and managed to maintain the advantage until the end, with the defense of Luiz Júnior and goalkeeper Rubén Gómez ensuring the victory. The final score of 3‑1 not only ended Villarreal's bad run in the Champions League, but also left Napoli with two consecutive defeats in the group stage. With this victory, Villarreal advances in the standings of its group, while Napoli must seek an immediate response in its next matches to avoid a drop in the standings.