Peter Gulacsi to miss Villarreal’s Napoli clash after armed robbery at home

Villarreal will face Napoli without goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi after he and his family were subjected to an armed robbery at their home. The club said nobody was injured, but the impact of the incident means the Hungarian will not be available for the Champions League match.

The robbery took place in the early hours of the morning while Gulacsi was at home with his family. Local broadcaster El partit de la una first reported the incident, which Villarreal later confirmed. The club said nobody present was hurt.

Luiz Junior is set to step in, a sudden reversal in Villarreal’s goalkeeping plans. He began the season as first choice but was moved to the bench after a disappointing start. Gulacsi, an experienced Hungary international who joined on a free transfer last summer, had been expected to serve as his deputy.

That makes Luiz Junior the likely starter for a match with European stakes for both sides. Napoli are looking to respond after losing to Arsenal in their opening Champions League fixture. The change gives Villarreal a different goalkeeper from the one they had expected to use, while the circumstances behind Gulacsi’s absence have abruptly altered the selection picture.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 at the Estadio de la Cerámica in Vila-real. Napoli’s domestic form adds another point of context: they sit eighth in Serie A after six matches, with 10 points from three wins, one draw and two defeats, and a goal difference of +4.

Napoli’s next league fixture is away to Venezia on Saturday, 17 October. For Villarreal, the immediate task is to adjust in goal, with Luiz Junior set to return to the starting role against a Napoli side seeking a European response.