21:23
Teams in the locker room at 1-1
A fought and at times vibrant first half ended: Napoli and Villarreal returned to the locker room at 1-1. So far the question and answer between Capoue and Osimhen decides.
21:20
45′ – The Spaniards close in on the attack
The end of the fraction sees Setien’s Villarreal closing forward and Napoli slightly in trouble, with Meret solicited on the Spaniards’ free kicks.
21:15
40′ – Pleasant match, high pace
It is however a good test for Napoli, because Villarreal helps to keep the tension high and the match continues at a good pace. A lively and entertaining first half for the large audience in the stands.
21:10
35′ – Naples, good plots but no chances
Another good plot by Spalletti’s team, this time Kvara plays the role of the assist man, but his pocket is not hooked by a whisker by Osimhen.
21:05
30′ – Kvara stumbles over the ball
Potential opportunity for Napoli, inspired by a good through ball from Mario Rui: however Kvara messed up, tripping over the ball and the chance vanished.
21:00
25′ – Villarreal becomes dangerous again
After a few minutes of kicking more than football, Villarreal came forward again, dangerous with a shot from inside the Collado area, walled off by the Napoli defence.
20:57
22′ – The competitive tone of the match rises
It will be the effect of the question and answer, but it was a real game at Maradona. The competitive tone of the match rises, Morlanes enters hard on Ndombele, the referee Dionisi doesn’t take out his card, but invites everyone to calm down.
20:53
18′ – Napoli ask for a penalty
After the draw, Napoli returned aggressively, with vibrant protests from Elmas, who fell in the area after a probable stomp and claimed the penalty, unheard of.
8.50pm
15′ – Osimhen responds immediately
Immediate reaction from Napoli, who immediately find the equal goal! Osimhen scores the 1-1 goal! Pino’s careless back pass, Osimhen understands everything and strikes Reina by putting the ball in the seven!
20:47
12′ – Villarreal takes the lead with Capoue
The Spaniards pass, practically at the first lunge with Capoue beating Meret! Juan fends off Mojica’s treacherous cross as best he can, the ball ends up on Capoue’s left foot who hits the mark!
8.40pm
10′ – Raspadori a bit 8 and a bit 10
Raspadori’s position is intriguing, starting from the classic midfielder, but frequently moving centrally from attacking midfielder behind Osimhen, with Kvara and Elmas widening to create spaces and solutions.
8.35pm
5′ – Aggressive start for Napoli
Spalletti’s team immediately tries to raise the center of gravity and forces Villarreal to remain cautious and build density on their trocar.
8.30pm
1′ – It starts at the Maradona, good glance in the stands
Napoli-Villarreal begins in a more than decent crowd for a pre-Christmas friendly: over 30,000 fans crowd the Maradona stands.
20:05
Dress rehearsals for Inter, with a look at the Champions League
Napoli’s third friendly, with increasing difficulty, will serve to better prepare the Serie A leaders for the restart of the championship, which will immediately see them involved in the big match with Inter, who just drew 1-1 in the test with Betis Sevilla. Villarreal, then, also stimulates thinking about the knockout stages of the Champions League, which will see the Neapolitans challenge Eintracht Frankfurt.
8:00 pm
Raspadori tried again from midfield
After the excellent results obtained in the first two winter friendlies, Spalletti proposes again Raspadori as a midfielder in the midfield trio, with the task of inspiring Elmas, Kvara and Osimhen, but also of being ready for insertions, as evidenced by the braces scored against Crystal Palace and Antalyaspor.
7.55pm
Out Politano for a muscle strain
Change compared to the predictions made on the eve: he remained outside the squad list Politanovictim of a muscle fatigue that has recommended the exclusion.
7.50pm
Napoli-Villarreal, the official formations
NAPLES (4-3-3): merit; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Giovanni Gesù, Mario Rui; Lobotka, Ndombele, Raspadori, Elmas, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia. Everyone: Spalletti
VILLARRREAL: Reina, Kiko, Albiol, Pau Torres, Capoue, Mojica, Jackson, Alex B., Morlanes, Yeremi, Collado. Everyone: Setien
