McTominay likely to start as Napoli seek first Champions League points

Scott McTominay is likely to return to Napoli’s starting XI against Villarreal after two months out, but Massimiliano Allegri will make the final decision after assessing his condition and the demands of the match. With Napoli already beaten by Arsenal in their Champions League opener, the midfielder’s return comes as they look to get their campaign moving.

“He is definitely feeling better,” Allegri said of McTominay, adding “I think so” when asked if he would start. The coach said he would consider how the game might unfold and the substitutions available before settling on his team. His message was clear: improved fitness does not mean McTominay is already back to full condition.

Allegri also said McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne need time to find a rhythm together. De Bruyne arrived on August 5, while McTominay has been out for two months. Still, Allegri’s view is that quality players should play together; managing their return and building their understanding is part of the task, not a reason to separate them.

The coach rejected the focus on whether Napoli should use a three-man defence or deploy De Bruyne as a deeper midfielder. “The discussion about systems is more bar talk than talk about what happens on the pitch,” he said, arguing that reducing a match to the number of defenders misses the wider demands of football. His immediate concern is Villarreal, whom he described as difficult opponents after their strong performance against Real Madrid at the weekend.

Napoli need points after losing their opening Champions League match to Arsenal. Allegri said the club’s objective is to get through the first phase and still be in the competition in March. That makes the Villarreal game an early test of whether Napoli can respond in Europe, as well as a measure of how much McTominay can contribute on his return.

Domestic form has begun to improve: Napoli beat Frosinone after the international break, but sit eighth in Serie A with 10 points from six matches. Their next league fixture is away to Venezia on October 17. Allegri said André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Mathías Olivera and Alisson Santos were due back in group training on Wednesday, adding to the options he hopes to have available. For now, the central call is whether McTominay is ready to start—and how much of his return Napoli can safely use.