Scott McTominay gets his first start since heart surgery, joining Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Hojlund as Napoli visit Villarreal in the Champions League.

It kicks off at the Estadio de la Ceramica at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Inter vs. Club Brugge on the Liveblog.

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Massimiliano Allegri SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 13, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

The Partenopei had a very tough opening Champions League fixture and capitulated 1-0 at home to Arsenal , which was their third consecutive defeat in all competition.

Things have improved since then for Max Allegri, scraping a win over Bologna, 1-1 draw at Fiorentina, and Saturday’s 3-0 victory against Frosinone.

McTominay made his comeback as a substitute a month on from surgery to correct a mild benign arrhythmia, and here gets his first start.

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 09: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli competes for the ball with Ezri Konsa of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between SSC Napoli and Arsenal FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 09, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Alineaciones de la Liga de Campeones: Villarreal vs Napoli" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Champions League metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

Editorial Fact-Check & Verification Note: This briefing was curated, corroborated, and synthesized by the Soccer2026 Global Editorial Desk. Readers following "Alineaciones de la Liga de Campeones: Villarreal vs Napoli" are encouraged to review the full primary source coverage linked below for complete historical context, direct quotes, and official statements.