Amir Rrahmani gave the Italian champions an early advantage, but Georges Mikautadze and Santiago Mouriño scored in quick succession to turn the match around before half-time. Substitute Tani Oluwaseyi then sealed the victory late in the second half.
The result gave Villarreal a valuable boost in their European campaign after a difficult start, while Napoli were left to reflect on a promising opening that unravelled before the interval.
Rrahmani gives Napoli an early lead
Napoli started brightly and took the lead in the eighth minute through Rrahmani, who capitalised on a loose ball inside the Villarreal penalty area.
The visitors looked capable of building on their advantage and created further opportunities as Villarreal struggled to deal with their early attacking pressure.
Napoli came close to extending their lead when Rasmus Højlund struck the woodwork. Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Júnior also had to work hard to keep the hosts in the contest.
Despite the difficult opening, Villarreal gradually found their rhythm and began to exploit spaces in Napoli’s defence.
Mikautadze and Mouriño turn the match around
Villarreal equalised in the 23rd minute when Georges Mikautadze took advantage of a defensive mistake and finished past Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić.
The hosts needed only a few more minutes to complete the turnaround. In the 26th minute, Santiago Mouriño produced a superb long-range strike to put Villarreal 2–1 ahead and ignite celebrations among the home supporters.
The two goals changed the complexion of the contest, with Villarreal showing greater confidence after recovering from their early setback.
Mikautadze threatened again before half-time, but Napoli managed to avoid conceding a third goal during the remainder of the first period.
Napoli search for an equaliser
Napoli attempted to respond after the break, introducing fresh attacking options as they searched for a way back into the match.
The visitors pushed forward and tried to increase the pressure on Villarreal’s defence, but the Spanish side remained organised and looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
Villarreal continued to create opportunities of their own, forcing Napoli to balance their search for an equaliser with the need to avoid conceding again.
As the match entered its closing stages, Napoli struggled to find the breakthrough that would have restored parity.
Oluwaseyi seals Villarreal’s victory
Villarreal finally put the result beyond doubt in the 86th minute when substitute Tani Oluwaseyi found the net to make it 3–1.
The goal rewarded the hosts’ persistence and ended Napoli’s hopes of rescuing a point from the encounter.
Villarreal managed the remaining minutes effectively, protecting their advantage to secure a significant home victory in front of their supporters.
Villarreal gain confidence from European comeback
The victory offered Villarreal encouragement after conceding early and struggling to contain Napoli during the opening exchanges.
Mikautadze’s equaliser provided the platform for the comeback, while Mouriño’s outstanding strike gave the hosts the lead. Oluwaseyi’s late contribution ensured that Villarreal finished the evening with all three points.
For Napoli, the defeat highlighted the cost of defensive errors and their inability to regain control after Villarreal scored twice in quick succession.
Villarreal will hope the performance provides momentum for their upcoming fixtures, while Napoli must respond quickly as the Champions League league phase continues.
Match details
Competition: UEFA Champions League, league phase
Date: Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Venue: Estadio de la Cerámica, Vila-real, Spain
Half-time: Villarreal 2–1 Napoli
Full-time: Villarreal 3–1 Napoli
Goalscorers:
• Villarreal: Georges Mikautadze 23', Santiago Mouriño 26', Tani Oluwaseyi 86'
• Napoli: Amir Rrahmani 8'
Key moment: Mouriño's long-range strike completed Villarreal's rapid first-half turnaround, putting the hosts ahead just three minutes after Mikautadze's equaliser.