Napoli were surprised by Villarreal, who ended the first half with a 2-1 lead in a match that saw both clubs create numerous chances. The match, played in Naples, showed a Naples that, despite its solid organization, suffered a twist that changed the flow of the game already in the early stages.
In the 8th minute Napoli started well: Gilmour converted a free kick, Rrahmani hit the crossbar and Luiz Junior responded with a goal, but on the second attempt the opposing defender managed to score. Villarreal reacted immediately, coming close to equalizing with a shot from Mikautadze which was deflectedly blocked by Badiashile; Moreno then pushed the ball out of his head. Meanwhile, McTominay only hit the outside of the net in the 18th minute. Hojlund hit the post, but Politano brought Villarreal to an equalizer in the 22nd minute, when he received a pass from Hojlund and finished with a header that went off the post to Luiz Junior.
Napoli tried to regain control, but a mistake by Politano changed the situation. A minute later, Politano missed a back pass towards Milinkovic‑Savic, turning it into an assist for Mikautadze, who beat the goalkeeper and scored Villarreal's second goal. The error gave confidence to the Spaniards, who completed the comeback in the 26th minute, when Mourino finished with a powerful right-footed shot that beat Milinkovic-Savic to make it 2-1.
After the goal, Napoli attempted to react. Allegri sent Neres onto the pitch to try to warm up the team, but Napoli had difficulty recovering the lead. McTominay finished off an area with a header in the 34th minute, but the goal wasn't enough to change the outcome of the match. In the final, Napoli suffered a problem with Rafa Marin's ribs, who was forced to leave the pitch due to a temporary interruption. The break ended with Villarreal leading 2-1.
The result leaves Napoli in a difficult position, needing to find quick solutions to regain their confidence and pace of play. Villarreal, on the other hand, can count on a positive result which strengthens its position in the league table. Napoli's next match will be crucial to understand if the team can get back on track and compete with the starters again.