Rrahmani put Napoli ahead in the eighth minute, but Villarreal responded impressively. Mikautadze levelled in the 23rd minute before Mouriño fired the hosts in front three minutes later. Oluwaseyi settled the contest late on, completing a comeback that gave Villarreal their first victory of the league phase.
Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez was particularly pleased that his players remained committed to their plan after conceding.
“We have to try to ensure that conceding a goal is not seen as a pit but as something accepted, because it can happen. The key was not to move away from our strategy or tactics, and that is how the victory came,” he said.
Pérez believes results of this kind strengthen the team’s confidence in the approach they have been developing, although he insisted that the players had been working towards the same objectives even when results were less favourable.
“Every victory increases the team’s and a coach’s belief in their ideas. When you win and the team has carried out a game plan, that has incalculable value in reinforcing what you demand.”
Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri, meanwhile, was frustrated that his side lost control after taking the lead. He pointed to missed opportunities to make it 2-0, including chances for Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund, before Villarreal turned the match around.
“We need to find some balance, because we create a lot going forward, but that also means we concede quite a lot when we defend,” Allegri said.
“After the equaliser, we should have continued playing calmly as a team. At a certain point, we stopped playing as a team, and that is the truth. It is a problem that needs to be solved.”
Allegri stressed that technical errors were part of football, but the response to them mattered most. Napoli had also conceded too many opportunities in recent matches, leaving the coach concerned about their defensive organisation.
“A strong team, and Napoli are technically strong, must remain calm and continue playing after an error. The unexpected is part of a match; you have to manage it.”
Pérez was keen to avoid looking too far ahead after the European victory, insisting that Villarreal’s immediate attention must turn to their domestic fixture against Elche.
“There will be a short period to enjoy this, and from tomorrow we think about Elche. That is the focus. Then the Champions League will come again.”
For Villarreal, the comeback offered a confidence boost. For Napoli, Allegri’s message was clear: their attacking quality must be matched by greater collective discipline.