Napoli landed the first punch in the 8th minute when Amir Rrahmani swept in after a recycled corner, a high quality chance worth 0.56 xG and 0.96 xGoT. The Italian side also rattled the woodwork twice in the opening half, hinting at a bigger lead. Villarreal did not blink. Georges Mikautadze levelled in the 23rd minute with a tidy left-foot finish from a tight angle worth 0.14 xG. Three minutes later, Santiago Mouriño put the hosts ahead, guiding a low effort into the corner from Gerard Moreno’s pass, a goal that carried just 0.02 xG.

After the interval, Napoli made changes and pushed, but the game tilted yellow. The decisive moment arrived on 86 minutes when two substitutes combined, Ayoze Pérez creating and Tani Oluwaseyi sweeping home high into the net. That goal sealed a 3-1 result and rewarded sharp in-game management. The scoreboard at full time read Villarreal 3-1 Napoli, with the hosts showing the kind of penalty-box efficiency that wins European nights.

The numbers behind 3-1

On the shot count, Villarreal led 17-11 and edged shots on target 4-3. The expected goals story went the other way, though, with Villarreal at 1.34 xG to Napoli’s 1.87. Put simply, Napoli created chances of higher average quality, but they did not cash them in. The visitors posted three big chances to Villarreal’s two, yet the hosts scored both of theirs and Napoli converted only one. Woodwork told part of the tale, with Napoli striking it twice.

Structure and discipline also mattered. Villarreal blocked six shots to Napoli’s two and cleared their lines 29 times to 20. The home side made 17 tackles to 13 and won the overall duel share 54% to 46%. Napoli did enter the final third more often, 66 times against 50, but many of those attacks met a yellow wall in and around the box. The team averages underline the different nights in front of goal: Villarreal’s average Sofascore team rating sat at 7.12 compared to Napoli’s 6.59.

How the match tilted in midfield and duels

Momentum swung decisively after half time, where Villarreal had 56% possession and a 9-4 shot edge. They also owned the duel battle 65% to 35% in the second half, a big jump from the opening period. Villarreal’s dribbles were efficient at 6 of 9 overall, while Napoli were 7 of 22, reflecting how often the visitors were crowded out. The home back line stepped up on first balls and second balls, winning enough ground and aerial contests to slow Napoli’s central supply.

Napoli’s route passing was cleaner, connecting 26 of 50 long balls compared to Villarreal’s 11 of 42. They also fashioned two through balls after the break, but the final action lacked precision. High claims and set pieces did not swing the contest either. The big difference came in finishing and in protecting the box. Napoli’s lone goal came from an early scramble, while Villarreal’s strikes arrived with better timing and smarter spacing.

MVP: Santiago Mouriño’s all-round display

Santiago Mouriño earned an 8.3 Sofascore Rating and the headlines, and not just for the winning goal. The centre-back scored with a low-percentage chance, then put in the kind of complete shift coaches love. He completed 44 of 52 passes, split cleanly across both halves, and handled pressure in and out of his own third. His duel profile was strong, winning 7 and losing 3, with 2 aerial wins and 2 tackles won from 2 attempts.

Defensively, Mouriño registered 3 clearances, 1 interception and 6 recoveries, all while avoiding costly lapses. He carried the ball with intent, logging 14 carries for 164.9 metres and 95.4 metres of progressive distance, including a single carry that gained 43.6 metres. That willingness to step in and move Villarreal up a line helped them ride out Napoli’s pressure spells. Add in 73 touches and flawless focus late on, and you have the spine of a measured European win.

Other standout performers and the goalkeeping split