VILVillarrealClub page
NAPNapoliClub page
Squad value€368.05m
Squad value€424.5m
Key playerAlberto Moleiro
Key playerKevin De Bruyne
Head coachIñigo Pérez
Head coachMassimiliano Allegri
Allegri's Napoli are happy to hand over the ball and sit in two rows in front of their goal, with one man up front. Villarreal want to control games by keeping it. Expect a lot of Villarreal passing in front of a wall.
“Pure in fase di non possesso: a differenza di quanto avveniva con Conte, Politano non si aggiungeva alla linea difensiva, restava davanti a Di Lorenzo per disegnare un 4-5-1 che diventava un 4-4-2 quando una delle due mezzali, soprattutto McTominay, andava ad alzarsi in pressione accanto a Hojlund.”Out of possession too: unlike under Conte, Politano did not drop into the back line, he stayed in front of Di Lorenzo to make a 4-5-1 that became a 4-4-2 when one of the two central midfielders, McTominay above all, pushed up to press alongside Hojlund. our translation
ilNapolista, Alfonso Fasano, 23 Aug 2026
“Appena 60 passaggi dal 54’ al 82’, di cui quasi uno su 3 lunghi, signicano che l’Inter avesse il predominio nel possesso e nel palleggio anche nel terzo offensivo e che il Napoli aspettasse praticamente arroccato in difesa a difendere il fortino per il resto della gara.”Just 60 passes from the 54th to the 82nd minute, almost one in three of them long, mean that Inter dominated possession and passing even in the final third, while Napoli waited, practically barricaded in defence, for the rest of the game. our translation
“Sorprendentes intenciones si uno vio al Rayo la temporada pasada, por la sorpresiva sorpresa de intentar controlar el partido desde el balón y no desde el juego sin él.”When Napoli win the ball back they slow down and build rather than break. Iñigo Pérez wants Villarreal pressing harder from the front than they did under Marcelino, so that slow build is where Napoli can lose it.
“Il Napoli tende maggiormente a costruire che a colpire immediatamente dopo il recupero.”Napoli tend to build up rather than strike straight after winning the ball back. our translation
“El cambio estaría en la ocupación: mayor presencia de un mediapunta entre líneas, una presión inicial más agresiva y un 4-2-3-1 con extremos asimétricos.”The change would be in how the pitch is occupied: more of a number ten between the lines, a more aggressive first press and a 4-2-3-1 with asymmetric wingers. our translation
Expect a lot of Villarreal passing in front of a wall. Napoli are happy to let Villarreal have the ball and sit in two rows in front of their own goal, with one man up front. Iñigo Pérez wants Villarreal pressing hard from the front, and Napoli's slow build after they win it back is where they can lose it. Too close to call, but Villarreal are the likelier side to win the ball back high up the pitch. Napoli's danger comes down the touchlines: expect crosses rather than passes threaded through the middle.
“Pure in fase di non possesso: a differenza di quanto avveniva con Conte, Politano non si aggiungeva alla linea difensiva, restava davanti a Di Lorenzo per disegnare un 4-5-1 che diventava un 4-4-2 quando una delle due mezzali, soprattutto McTominay, andava ad alzarsi in pressione accanto a Hojlund.”Out of possession too: unlike under Conte, Politano did not drop into the back line, he stayed in front of Di Lorenzo to make a 4-5-1 that became a 4-4-2 when one of the two central midfielders, McTominay above all, pushed up to press alongside Hojlund. our translation
ilNapolista, Alfonso Fasano, 23 Aug 2026
“Appena 60 passaggi dal 54’ al 82’, di cui quasi uno su 3 lunghi, signicano che l’Inter avesse il predominio nel possesso e nel palleggio anche nel terzo offensivo e che il Napoli aspettasse praticamente arroccato in difesa a difendere il fortino per il resto della gara.”Just 60 passes from the 54th to the 82nd minute, almost one in three of them long, mean that Inter dominated possession and passing even in the final third, while Napoli waited, practically barricaded in defence, for the rest of the game. our translation
“Sorprendentes intenciones si uno vio al Rayo la temporada pasada, por la sorpresiva sorpresa de intentar controlar el partido desde el balón y no desde el juego sin él.”“Con su esquema 4-4-2 o incluso 4-2-3-1 Iñigo Pérez promete hacer las delicias de la hinchada del Villarreal, puesto que su idea de juego pasa por un fútbol ofensivo en el que la posesión y la presión intensa sobre el rival sean los puntos fuertes.”With his 4-4-2 or even 4-2-3-1, Iñigo Pérez promises to delight Villarreal's fans, as his idea is attacking football built on possession and intense pressure on the opponent. our translation
Diario de Noticias de Álava, 28 Aug 2026
“El cambio estaría en la ocupación: mayor presencia de un mediapunta entre líneas, una presión inicial más agresiva y un 4-2-3-1 con extremos asimétricos.”The change would be in how the pitch is occupied: more of a number ten between the lines, a more aggressive first press and a 4-2-3-1 with asymmetric wingers. our translation
“Il Napoli tende maggiormente a costruire che a colpire immediatamente dopo il recupero.”Napoli tend to build up rather than strike straight after winning the ball back. our translation
“In questo senso, i dati sulla distribuzione delle azioni sono eloquenti: gli azzurri hanno concentrato le loro giocate offensive sulle due corsie laterali per il 71%.”On that point, the data on where the play went is telling: Napoli concentrated 71% of their attacking play in the two wide channels. our translation
The weakness is the other direction. When they lose the ball after a good spell, they are slow to get back and chase, and that is when they concede — their own coach says so.
“Y cuando tienes que acelerar para defender al rival, hay cierto letargo.”And when you have to get up to speed to defend against the opposition, there's a certain sluggishness. our translation
A new coach is still bedding his ideas in, and when things stall he tells them to make the game messy — so expect long stretches of controlled football broken up by deliberate chaos.
“En la segunda, hemos buscado generar más caos, aunque por momentos demasiado”In the second half we looked to create more chaos, though at times too much our translation
Their best moments come the instant they win the ball back — two or three passes and they are running at your defence.
“El Villarreal comenzó muy bien la segunda parte y continuó haciendo daño mediante las transiciones rápidas.”Villarreal began the second half very well and went on doing damage through fast transitions. our translation
Napoli do not press high: they wait for you to come to them.
“Così, facendo però la squadra di Allegri rinuncia contemporaneamente a pressione alta (PPDA 24.4!) e presenza immediata nella metà campo offensiva lasciando quasi del tutto il pallone del gioco all’Inter.”In doing so, however, Allegri's side gives up both high pressing (a PPDA of 24.4!) and an immediate presence in the attacking half, leaving the ball almost entirely to Inter. our translation
Allegri is happy to hand the ball over and sit deep, and this early in his time at Napoli that has meant long spells where they simply defend and wait.
“Gli azzurri si sono consegnati alla squadra di Fabregas, difendendo bassi e male, e hanno provato a reagire solo dopo il primo schiaffo.”Napoli handed themselves over to Fabregas's side, defending deep and badly, and only tried to react after the first slap in the face. our translation