Napoli is preparing to challenge Villarreal in the Champions League, with the aim of consolidating its positive form after the convincing victory over Frosinone and achieving their first European victory of the season. The match will be held at the Estadio de la Ceramica, known for the difficulty it represents for Italian teams. Napoli coach Allegri has confirmed his preference for a three-man defense, while Spanish coach Inigo Pérez will have to deal with the absence of two of his brightest talents, Tajon Buchanan and Nicolas Pepe, both of whom have been the subject of Neapolitan interest in the past.
For Napoli, Allegri has outlined a formation in which the three-man defense will be entrusted to Rafa Marin, Rrahmani and Badiashile, with Marin and Badiashile occupying the sides. The attack will be managed by Politano and Di Lorenzo, who will move to the right and left respectively, while the midfield pair will be made up of Gilmour and McTominay, the latter who will enter the field from the first minute. The third midfield will be occupied by Lobotka, who, although rested for national reasons, has been confirmed as the starter. In attack, Giovane and De Bruyne will be the main points of reference, with Hojlund who will be able to push the sides. The formation proposed by Napoli is therefore 3-4-2-1, with Milinkovic-Savic in goal, Marin, Rrahmani and Badiashile in defence, Politano, Gilmour, McTominay and Di Lorenzo in midfield, and Giovane, De Bruyne and Hojlund in attack.
Villarreal, however, chose to play in a 4‑4‑2 formation, with Gulacsi in goal and a defense made up of Mourino, Foyth, Renato Veiga and Romero. The midfield is made up of Gueye, Saliba, Akhomach and Moleiro, while the attack is entrusted to Ayoze Perez and Mikautadze. Coach Inigo Pérez had to give up Buchanan and Pepe, two players who had attracted great interest from Napoli. The choice to keep Veiga, a former Juventus player, in the defense explains the desire to consolidate the Spanish defensive structure.
The match, scheduled for October 13, represents a crucial stage for Napoli, which seeks to capitalize on the positive wave and obtain its first victory in the Champions League. Villarreal, on the other hand, aims to capitalize on their experience in European competitions and demonstrate the solidity of their defensive and offensive units. With the lineups confirmed, fans can expect a balanced match, where Napoli's defensive strategy and Villarreal's attacking ability will be put to the test. The final result could significantly influence both teams' position in the group stage, with Napoli hoping to consolidate their position and Villarreal looking to maintain European competitiveness.