Villarreal’s 50th match in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) proper comes against Napoli, with both teams having something to prove after losing in the opening round of this season’s league phase.
Match News and Current Form
Back-to-back wins meant Villarreal headed into the international break in a confident mood, and while they lost 1-0 to Real Madrid on their return at the weekend, they gave a good account of themselves. Those wins do serve as their only victories this season though (D2, L5), with their five losses in all competitions including a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on matchday one of their UCL campaign. That got the Yellow Submarine’s sixth campaign in the main draw of the UCL off to a horrible start and extended their losing streak in the competition to seven, putting them at risk of becoming the first Spanish team to suffer eight consecutive defeats in European Cup/UCL history.
Napoli returned from the international hiatus with a storming 3-0 win over Frosinone, extending their unbeaten record to three games (W2, D1). That streak started after a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in their league phase opener to extend their winless streak in the competition to four matches (D1, L3), with just one win across their last seven (D2, L4). Hitting the road does the Blues no favours on the continental scene either, having failed to win any of their last six away UCL matches (D1, L5), but losing just one of their last eight road trips in all competitions overall might inspire Massimiliano Allegri’s men here (W4, D3).
Head-to-Head History
These sides share an even record across their six H2H meetings (W2, D2, L2). Villarreal have lost only two of their 13 home matches against Italian visitors (W7, D4), while Napoli have won just one of their last nine games in Spain (D1, L7).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Villarreal haven't scored a first-half goal in their last seven UCL matches.
Villarreal’s last five European games featured over 2.5 goals.
Just one of Napoli’s last six matches was decided by a multi-goal margin.
Napoli have scored 2+ goals in just one of their last six away UCL fixtures.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Villarreal’s Georges Mikautadze will be pushing for a starting berth here considering five of his last six goals have come at home. Napoli’s Kevin De Bruyne has been on fire with a brace in his last two games for club and country, making him a prime candidate to score his side’s opening goal here having done so in nine of his last ten UCL goalscoring appearances.
Tajon Buchanan remains Villarreal’s main absentee, while Frank Anguissa and Alisson Santos are unlikely to feature for Napoli.
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Betting Analysis
Napoli’s away form and win at the weekend mean it could be worth a punt on them scoring first here.
Author: Peter Stavrinou