Napoli collapses at Villarreal: zero points in Champions League and urgent warnings

Napoli returned home from Villarreal's ground with a 3-1 defeat, recording their second consecutive negative result in the Champions League after the 1-0 loss to Arsenal at the Maradona. The evening, which began with Rrahmani's advantage and chances for McTominay, turned into a defensive nightmare.

The flip side of a promising start

Napoli opened the match with Rrahmani's goal, which took advantage of a header deflected off the crossbar. Shortly after, Hojlund hit the post, leaving the score at 0-2. Politano's mistake allowed Mikautadze to equalise, while Mouriño turned the result around with the second goal. Oluwaseyi, coming off the bench, closed the game with the third net.

Allegri's criticisms and future prospects

In the post‑match, coach Massimiliano Allegri highlighted the need to cut down errors in the Champions, stating: “Champions matches are like that, you have to make as few mistakes as possible. We cannot concede the second goal, Champions matches must be played differently.” He also rebuked the collapse in the second half, calling for greater defensive reactivity.

Allegri recalled the 3-0 victory over Frosinone, which had restored confidence to the squad, but he pointed out that the performance at Villarreal raises questions about defensive solidity. “Since the start of the season we have many attacking situations, but we concede too much at the back and we need to find balance,” he said.

Allegri present: Napoli vs Villarreal in 3‑5‑2, Football in focus

The coach also highlighted the need for greater defensive focus, arguing that every goal conceded demands a tactical change. Despite the European table showing zero points after two matchdays, Allegri does not see the journey as compromised, but insists on regaining the lost solidity.

The players' grades highlighted an uneven performance: Junior received a 7 for the decisive saves, while Politano finished with a 4.5 for the crucial mistake. Saliba earned a 7.5 for his ability to close down spaces in midfield. For Napoli, Milinković‑Savic was rated 6, but he bore the impact of the opponent’s actions.

Allegri says on video McTominay ready from the first minute

With the Champions League table at zero points, Napoli must quickly find a defensive answer to avoid jeopardising the passage to the next round, while Villarreal has shown they can manage critical moments and exploit the opponents’ mistakes.