Villarreal and Napoli are both in need of a positive result after losing their first games in the Champions League. The two clash at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Tuesday night.

Villarreal to Freshen Things Up After Weekend Defeat

Despite a competitive showing in a game which saw them have 15 shots, Villarreal lost 1-0 away to Real Madrid on Saturday. Iñigo Pérez is expected to respond with some light rotation for the visit of Napoli.

Georges Mikautadze is set to return in attack. He has only netted twice in eight league outings this term, but the 25-year-old did create a goal as the Yellow Submarine lost their opening Champions League fixture 3-2 in Dortmund. The Georgian will be looking to make intelligent runs in behind Napoli centre-back Amir Rrahmani.

The hosts have two likely injury absentees. Nicolas Pépé is set to miss out with an eye problem, while Tajon Buchanan is yet to recover from a hamstring issue.

Villarreal predicted lineup vs Napoli (4-2-3-1): Gulácsi; Mouriño, Navarro, Veiga, Romero; Comesaña, Gueye; Akhomach, Moleiro, Pérez; Mikautadze.

McTominay to Return for Injury-Hit Napoli

A comfortable 3-0 victory over Frosinone on Saturday sends Napoli into this match in good spirits. Kevin De Bruyne scored twice in that game, while the veteran midfielder also completed two key passes.

De Bruyne could be pushed into a more advanced role in Spain, with key man Scott McTominay likely to come into the starting lineup in the centre of the pitch. The Scotland international had a procedure for a mild heart condition in September, which has limited him to just 175 minutes of football in Serie A.

The visitors are still set to be without at least four players. Alessandro Buongiorno, Mathías Olivera, Antonio Vergara and Alisson Santos are all carrying injuries, while Frank Anguissa is an additional doubt.

Napoli predicted lineup vs Villarreal (3-4-2-1): Meret; Marín, Rrahmani, Badiashile; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Neres, De Bruyne; Højlund.

Villarreal vs Napoli Prediction

  • Safe Tip: Both teams to score
  • Odds: 1.52 (22Bet)
  • Correct score prediction: Villarreal 2-2 Napoli
  • 22Bet Booking Code: RBHQ4

Key stats:

  • 78% of Villarreal matches this season have seen both teams score.
  • The Yellow Submarine have gone 23 competitive games without keeping a clean sheet.
  • Napoli have only failed to net in one of their seven fixtures this term.

Villarreal are the favourites, but their defensive issues mean they’re expected to concede at least once. They failed to keep a clean sheet in Europe last term, conceding 2.25 goals per 90 minutes.

The main risk is Villarreal failing to score, as in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at the Bernabéu. However, they average 1.67 goals per 90 minutes in all competitions, making both teams to score the smart approach at 1.52.

Villarreal vs Napoli Prediction, Value Tip

  • Value Tip: Napoli to win or draw
  • Odds: 1.697 (22Bet)
  • 22Bet Booking Code: CF4Q4

A miserable return of just one point from nine Champions League fixtures since the start of the 2025/26 campaign means Villarreal are hard to back here. Napoli offer value to avoid defeat at odds of 1.697.

Gli Azzurri have recovered from a slow start to the campaign by taking seven points from their previous three outings in Serie A.

Verdict: Both teams to score (1.52) — Villarreal 2-2 Napoli.