Villarreal v Napoli: Pape Gueye starts as both sides seek first Champions League points

Villarreal and Napoli have confirmed their starting line-ups for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League meeting, with both clubs attempting to recover from defeat on matchday one. The second league-phase fixture is scheduled to begin at 19:00 GMT at the Estadio de la Ceramica in Spain.

Pape Gueye is named in Villarreal’s midfield, while Georges Mikautadze starts in attack alongside Gerard Moreno. Alberto Moleiro and Santi Comesana are also included from the beginning as the Spanish side look to use home advantage to collect their first points of the competition.

Villarreal lost 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in their opening match. Victory against Napoli would give the club its first points in the league phase and provide an opportunity to get its European campaign back on course.

Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri has selected Kevin De Bruyne in an attacking area which also features Noa Lang, with Rasmus Højlund leading the line. Stanislav Lobotka and Billy Gilmour are listed as the players responsible for organising the midfield.

The Napoli defence includes Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani and Rafa Marin, in front of goalkeeper Alex Meret. Napoli began the competition with a 1-0 defeat by Arsenal, leaving both teams seeking a response in Spain.

In the confirmed starting XI, Napoli field Alex Meret, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Rafa Marin, Benoit Badiashile, Leonardo Spinazzola, Stanislav Lobotka, Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne, David Neres and Rasmus Højlund.

Villarreal’s starting XI is Peter Gulacsi, Santiago Mourino, Pau Navarro, Renato Veiga, Sergi Cardona, Pape Gueye, Santi Comesana, Ilias Akhomach, Alberto Moleiro, Georges Mikautadze and Gerard Moreno.