Napoli reach Castellón as fans greet squad outside team hotel

Napoli have arrived in Castellón ahead of Tuesday 13 October's Champions League matchday two game against Villarreal. Before heading to the hotel, the squad completed their final pre-match duties: a press conference with head coach Massimiliano Allegri and Rafa Marín, followed by the usual closing training session.

The team arrives in a different moment than a month ago. In Serie A, Napoli have won three matches in a row, the latest a 3-0 win over Frosinone last Saturday — De Bruyne from the penalty spot in the 29th minute, Lang in the 32nd, and De Bruyne again in the 94th minute, assisted by Giovane. That result leaves Napoli eighth on 10 points after six rounds. In the Champions League, though, that league form counts for nothing: Napoli are coming off a defeat, beaten 0-1 at home by Arsenal in their opening group match, settled by an Odegaard goal in the 75th minute.

That is also why the trip to Castellón carries more weight than a routine matchday two. Allegri has been told by the club's owners to go at least one step further in the Champions League than last season's league phase, which ended with Napoli 30th. Another setback in Europe, coming after the loss to Arsenal, would reopen questions about his position that have never quite gone away in recent weeks.

Napoli's opponents, Villarreal, go into the match on the back of a defeat away to José Mourinho's Real Madrid, with head coach Iñigo Pérez fielding a back five and Foyth used as an auxiliary sixth defender. Rafa Marín, who travelled to Castellón with the squad, built up the game on social media: "Let's go and get the win in the Champions League!"

Allegri will definitely be without Antonio Vergara and Alisson Santos, both sidelined through injury. André-Frank Anguissa remains a doubt as he works to be available after the myofascial injury suffered in Florence, with Venezia's game the following round set as the fallback target for his return.

Kick-off is set for 21:00 CET on Tuesday 13 October at the Estadio de la Cerámica. For Napoli, it is a chance to wipe out their opening-night European slip in one move, in front of more than 1,600 fans who have already made themselves heard outside the team hotel.