Napoli director Giovanni Manna confirms they ‘need to improve in the Champions League’ against Villarreal and insists Scott McTominay ‘wants to stay, we’re working on’ a new contract.

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.

There are five changes from the side that started the 3-0 Serie A victory over Frosinone on Saturday, including the Champions League debut for Giovane.

The Brazilian was not originally in the UEFA squad list for this season, but was added in place of injured Costantino Favasuli this week.

NAPLES, ITALY – JULY 14: Giovanni Manna SSC Napoli sports director as Massimiliano Allegri is unveiled as the new SSC Napoli head coach at Teatro di San Carlo on July 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“Squad rotation as you call it is necessary and we have a fairly balanced squad,” director of sport Manna told Sky Sport Italia.

“There are three or four players who in my mind are irreplaceable, so if they are fit then they play, but seeing as we have nine games to be played over the next 29 days, the coach has the option to make changes also based on the characteristics of the opposition.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Manna: „Napoli muss sich in der Champions League steigern, McTominay will bleiben“" 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 Live Scores 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 LiveWire Editorial Desk. Readers following "Manna: „Napoli muss sich in der Champions League steigern, McTominay will bleiben“" are encouraged to review the full primary source coverage linked below for complete historical context, direct quotes, and official statements.